What Is Melanotan? Melanotan II (MT2) Research Guide Australia
| Also known as | Melanotan 2, melanotan ii, MT2, MT-2 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Cyclic analogue of alpha-MSH, 7 amino acids |
| Receptor targets | MC1R (pigmentation), MC4R (appetite and energy) |
| Receptor selectivity | Non-selective, activates both |
| Related compounds | Melanotan I (more MC1R-selective), PT-141, KPV |
| Vial size supplied | 10mg lyophilised powder |
| Australian status | Not ARTG registered; laboratory research use only |
| Purity | 99% or higher, independently HPLC tested per batch |
Melanotan I vs Melanotan II
| Melanotan I | Melanotan II | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Linear, 13 amino acids | Cyclic, 7 amino acids |
| MC1R activity | Yes | Yes |
| MC4R activity | Minimal | Yes |
| Selectivity | More selective | Non-selective |
| Also known as | Afamelanotide, MT1 | MT2, MT-2 |
Melanotan is the common name for a pair of synthetic peptides based on alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, the hormone that drives pigmentation signalling in the body. Melanotan II , usually shortened to MT2, is the second and more widely studied of the two: a cyclic seven amino acid analogue that activates the MC1R and MC4R melanocortin receptors.
This guide covers what melanotan is, how MT2 differs from Melanotan I, what the MC1R and MC4R receptors each do, reconstitution volumes, and how to verify a batch. PhaseOne supplies Melanotan II strictly as a laboratory research compound.
On this page
What is melanotan | MT1 vs MT2 | How it works | Dosage and reconstitution | How it is supplied | vs KPV | Checking purity | FAQs
Key points at a glance
- Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic analogue of alpha-MSH, seven amino acids long
- Written melanotan 2, melanotan ii, MT2, MT-2 and often mistyped melano tan or melotan
- Activates two receptors: MC1R, tied to pigmentation signalling, and MC4R, tied to appetite and energy
- Melanotan I is the older, more MC1R-selective analogue, also known as afamelanotide
- Supplied as a lyophilised powder in 10mg vials, not as a prepared solution or nasal spray
- Not registered on the ARTG. Supplied for laboratory research only, never for cosmetic or human use
What is melanotan?
Melanotan refers to two synthetic analogues of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, usually called Melanotan I and Melanotan II. Both were developed as research tools for the melanocortin receptor system, the receptor family that alpha-MSH acts on naturally.
Alpha-MSH itself is a linear peptide and breaks down quickly. Melanotan II was engineered as a ring-shaped, or cyclic, structure, which resists enzymatic breakdown and makes it far more usable as a laboratory reference compound. That structural change is the whole reason it exists.
In listings and research discussion you will see melanotan, melanotan 2, melanotan ii, MT2, MT-2 and melanotan peptide used interchangeably, along with mistypings such as melano tan, melotan and melonotan. They all refer to the same compound.
Melanotan I vs Melanotan II
Melanotan I, also known as afamelanotide, came first. It is a linear thirteen amino acid analogue and is relatively selective for the MC1R receptor. Melanotan II is shorter, cyclic and non-selective, activating both MC1R and MC4R.
| Melanotan I | Melanotan II | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Linear, 13 amino acids | Cyclic, 7 amino acids |
| MC1R activity | Yes | Yes |
| MC4R activity | Minimal | Yes |
| Selectivity | More selective | Non-selective |
| Also known as | Afamelanotide, MT1 | MT2, MT-2 |
That selectivity difference is the practical distinction. A study looking only at pigmentation signalling has a cleaner read with the more selective compound, while MT2 brings a second active pathway that has to be accounted for. PhaseOne supplies both: Melanotan I and Melanotan II .
How Melanotan II works
Melanotan II is a melanocortin receptor agonist. It binds and activates receptors in that family rather than acting on pigment directly, and its defining feature is that it does not pick just one.
MC1R: the pigmentation pathway
The melanocortin 1 receptor sits on melanocytes and is the receptor most associated with melanin production signalling. It is the reason Melanotan II is studied in pigmentation research at all, and the pathway behind the tanning peptide label attached to it in informal discussion.
MC4R: appetite and energy signalling
The melanocortin 4 receptor sits in the central nervous system and is studied in connection with appetite regulation and energy balance. Melanotan II activates it at the same time as MC1R, which is a separate research thread rather than a side note.
Why non-selectivity matters in study design
Because both receptors activate together, an observed outcome cannot automatically be attributed to one pathway. Research designs that care about the distinction use a more selective comparator, usually Melanotan I for the MC1R side, so the MC4R contribution can be separated out rather than assumed. Much of the informal discussion around this compound ignores that split entirely, which is where most of the confusion comes from.
Melanotan 2 dosage and reconstitution
Melanotan 2 dosage questions almost always come down to reconstitution volume rather than a protocol. PhaseOne supplies MT2 in 10mg vials as a lyophilised powder, and the volume of bacteriostatic water you add sets the concentration of the finished solution.
| Vial | Bac water added | Concentration | Volume per 250mcg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 1ml | 10mg per ml | 0.025ml, 2.5 units |
| 10mg | 2ml | 5mg per ml | 0.05ml, 5 units |
| 10mg | 3ml | 3.3mg per ml | 0.075ml, 7.5 units |
| 10mg | 5ml | 2mg per ml | 0.125ml, 12.5 units |
Work out any other combination with the peptide dosage calculator , and see the reconstitution guide for technique. You will need bacteriostatic water and 1ml syringes, both in the Starter Kit .
Once reconstituted, refrigerate and keep it out of light. The storage guide covers how long a reconstituted vial stays usable.
How Melanotan II is supplied
As a sealed vial of lyophilised powder. Searches for melanotan injections, melanin injection or nasal spray describe prepared consumer formats that PhaseOne does not supply and does not endorse. The powder is reconstituted in the laboratory for research use, and every PhaseOne product is supplied strictly for laboratory research, not for human or animal administration.
Vial size and current pricing are on the Melanotan II product page .
Melanotan II vs KPV
Both derive from alpha-MSH, which is why they get grouped together, and the grouping is wrong. Melanotan II is a cyclic analogue that activates melanocortin receptors. KPV is the three amino acid tail of the same parent hormone, studied for anti-inflammatory signalling that does not run through those receptors at all. Findings from one say nothing about the other.
Melanotan II vs PT-141
PT-141, or bremelanotide, is a metabolite of Melanotan II and a closer relative than KPV. It keeps activity at MC4R but lacks the MC1R-associated pigmentation activity that defines MT2 research, which is why the two are studied for different questions. See PT-141 .
How the research developed
Melanocortin research began with alpha-MSH and its role in pigmentation, then widened as the receptor family was mapped out from MC1R through MC5R, each with a different distribution and function. Melanotan II came out of that work as a stable synthetic tool, and it remains a common reference compound precisely because it activates the receptor family broadly. Newer, more selective compounds are used to narrow in afterwards.
What the research does not establish
Because MT2 hits two receptors at once, a good deal of the published work does not cleanly separate which pathway produced which result. Human clinical research is limited compared with the animal-model and pre-clinical literature. Claims circulating in informal discussion, particularly about cosmetic outcomes, generally outrun what the primary sources actually support, and should be read against the specific study design rather than taken at face value.
Checking purity before you order
HPLC testing separates a sample into its parts and measures each. The main peak is the peptide, and its share of the total area is the purity figure. Every PhaseOne Melanotan II batch is independently HPLC tested at 99% or higher, and the Certificate of Analysis for that batch is published in our public COA library so it can be read before ordering.
See the HPLC testing guide for how to read a certificate, and our research standards guide for what to expect from any supplier.
Buying Melanotan II in Australia
Melanotan II is not ARTG registered, is not available through pharmacies, and is supplied here as a research compound only. PhaseOne ships 10mg vials Australia-wide from Sydney with tracking, usually arriving in 1 to 5 business days. View Melanotan II pricing , compare with Melanotan I , or browse the full research peptide range .
Related research guides
For the tripeptide from the same parent sequence, see the KPV guide . For the cosmetic research category more broadly, see the cosmetic peptide guide . For handling, see the reconstitution guide and storage guide .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is melanotan?
Melanotan is the common name for two synthetic analogues of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, Melanotan I and Melanotan II. Both were developed as research tools for the melanocortin receptor system. PhaseOne supplies both for laboratory research only.
What is Melanotan II?
A synthetic cyclic peptide, seven amino acids long, that activates the MC1R and MC4R melanocortin receptors. MC1R is tied to pigmentation signalling and MC4R to appetite and energy signalling.
Is MT2 the same as Melanotan II?
Yes. MT2, MT-2, melanotan 2 and melanotan ii all describe the same compound. Melano tan, melotan and melonotan are common mistypings of it.
What is the difference between Melanotan I and Melanotan II?
Melanotan I is linear, thirteen amino acids, and relatively selective for MC1R. Melanotan II is cyclic, seven amino acids, and activates both MC1R and MC4R. The selectivity difference is what separates them in study design.
What is melanotan 2 dosage in research?
It is a reconstitution question rather than a protocol. A 10mg vial with 2ml of bacteriostatic water gives 5mg per ml, so a 250mcg draw is 5 units on a 1ml insulin syringe. The dosage calculator covers other volumes.
How is Melanotan II reconstituted?
With bacteriostatic water added slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirled gently rather than shaken, then refrigerated once the solution is clear.
Is Melanotan II a tanning peptide?
That label comes from the MC1R pathway, which is associated with melanin production signalling. PhaseOne supplies Melanotan II strictly as a research compound. It is not a cosmetic product and is not sold for tanning.
Does Melanotan II come as an injection or nasal spray?
No. It is supplied as a sealed vial of lyophilised powder for laboratory reconstitution. Prepared solutions and nasal sprays are consumer formats we do not supply.
Is Melanotan II selective for one receptor?
No. It activates both MC1R and MC4R, which is why research designs that care about the distinction include a more selective comparator such as Melanotan I.
How does Melanotan II differ from KPV?
Both come from alpha-MSH, but KPV is a three amino acid fragment studied for anti-inflammatory signalling that does not run through melanocortin receptors. The shared origin does not make the findings transferable.
How does Melanotan II relate to PT-141?
PT-141, or bremelanotide, is a metabolite of Melanotan II. It retains MC4R activity but not the MC1R-associated pigmentation activity, so the two are studied for different questions.
Why is Melanotan II cyclic rather than linear?
The ring structure resists enzymatic breakdown better than the linear native hormone, which makes it a more stable and more practical reference compound.
Is Melanotan II legal in Australia?
It is not registered on the ARTG and is not approved as a medicine or cosmetic here. It is supplied by research suppliers as a laboratory research compound, which is how PhaseOne sells it.
How is Melanotan II purity verified?
Every batch is independently HPLC tested at 99% or higher, and the Certificate of Analysis for that batch is published in our public COA library so you can check it before ordering.
Where can I buy Melanotan II in Australia?
From research suppliers rather than pharmacies. PhaseOne ships 10mg vials Australia-wide from Sydney with tracking, with batch results published in the COA library.
Disclaimer
All products supplied by PhaseOne are intended strictly for laboratory research purposes only. Products are not intended for human consumption, therapeutic use, cosmetic use, veterinary use, or diagnostic applications.
