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NuVion Melanotan 1 research peptide vial
Janoshik certificate of analysis for Melanotan 1

Melanotan 1

A$49.00

Melanotan 1, a melanocortin receptor agonist studied in skin pigmentation research.

Research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.

In stock

All prices are in AUD. Ships from Australia with tracked express shipping, $15 flat, 1 to 2 business days, free on orders over $200. Research use only, not for human or veterinary use.

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Research use only

Not for human or veterinary use.

Laboratory chemical

Supplied for in vitro research. We publish specifications and handling guidance only, with no protocols and no advice on use.

Not on the ARTG

Absent from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and never evaluated by the TGA for safety, quality or efficacy. Absence from the register is not an approval and does not authorise any other use.

Who can order

You must be 18 or over and purchasing solely for lawful research.

What is Melanotan 1?

Melanotan 1, often written MT1 or Melanotan I, is a synthetic analogue of alpha-MSH with selectivity at the MC1R receptor. It is used in melanocyte culture to study melanogenesis and receptor binding, and NuVion stocks it in Australia as a 10mg lyophilised vial.

  • Synthetic analogue of alpha-MSH, selective at the MC1R receptor
  • Used in melanocyte culture models
  • Applied in melanogenesis and receptor binding assays
  • Supplied lyophilised, purity by RP-HPLC and identity by mass spectrometry

Melanotan 1 structure and research use

Melanotan 1 keeps the full 13 amino acid length of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone with two substitutions: norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7. Both changes make the linear chain more resistant to breakdown than the native hormone. In the laboratory it is used in melanocyte models for work on MC1R binding and melanogenesis.

Melanotan 1 research applications

  • Saturation and competition radioligand binding across MC1R to MC5R, with the iodinated peptide serving as tracer
  • cAMP accumulation in B16 cells and in HEK293 lines expressing a single melanocortin receptor subtype
  • Melanin content by absorbance of alkali-solubilised pigment and tyrosinase activity by L-DOPA oxidation in cultured melanocytes
  • Comparing cAMP output of MC1R coding variants such as R151C against the wild-type receptor in heterologous cells

Melanotan 1 key facts

Type Synthetic peptide, linear alpha-MSH analogue
Amino acid count 13
Molecular formula C78H111N21O19
Molecular weight 1646.8 g/mol
CAS number 75921-69-6
Also known as Afamelanotide, NDP-MSH, NDP-alpha-MSH, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH
Vial size 10mg, lyophilised
Purity 99.69% by RP-HPLC, Janoshik Analytical
Analysed 24 March 2026

See how Melanotan 1 compares in Melanotan 1 vs Melanotan 2 vs PT-141.

Research profile: Melanotan 1: structure, mechanism and research use

Independent test: a sample of this product was analysed by Janoshik Analytical on 24 March 2026, purity 99.69% by RP-HPLC. The certificate is shown in the lab band on this page.

Why buy Melanotan 1 from NuVion

Testing status on every page

Published results show the measured purity, the date and the certificate.

Australian stock, domestic post

Held in Australia and sent tracked in plain outer packaging.

Specifications

Storing and handling Melanotan 1

Before reconstitution
Keep the sealed vial cool, dry and out of direct light. General practice for lyophilised peptides.
After reconstitution
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic or sterile water, store at 2 to 8°C and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. No stability-tested shelf life is published for this product.

Reconstitution and storage Volumes, concentrations and storage at a glance.

Melanotan 1 questions

Where can I buy Melanotan 1 in Australia?
NuVion stocks Melanotan 1 in Australia as a 10mg vial. Add it to your cart on this page and the order is posted from Australian stock on a tracked express service. This product is supplied as a research material only and is not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
What is Melanotan 1 used for in research?
It is used as a melanocortin receptor agonist in binding and cAMP assays, and as the reference agonist in melanocyte culture work on tyrosinase activity, melanin content and MITF-driven gene expression. Its iodinated form is a standard tracer in receptor binding panels.
How does Melanotan 1 work at the cell level?
Melanocortin receptors MC1R to MC5R are class A G protein-coupled receptors that all couple to Gs. MC1R is the receptor expressed on epidermal melanocytes and is the usual context in which this analogue is used, although the peptide binds MC3R, MC4R and MC5R with high affinity as well, which is why concentration-response comparisons across the family are normally run with subtype-selective controls. The Melanotan 1 research profile covers the mechanism in full.
What is the message sequence in Melanotan 1?
The message sequence is His-Phe-Arg-Trp at positions 6 to 9, the minimal core recognised by every melanocortin receptor. In Melanotan 1 the phenylalanine in that core is the D enantiomer, which stabilises a beta-turn across the four residues.
Why is methionine replaced by norleucine in Melanotan 1?
Norleucine removes the oxidation site found in alpha-MSH. It is an isosteric residue with a straight butyl side chain and no sulfur, which takes away the methionine chemistry that makes the native peptide awkward to handle and store.
Why are both ends of Melanotan 1 capped?
The N-acetyl group and the C-terminal amide block exopeptidase attack at both ends of the chain. Alpha-MSH, the parent molecule, carries the same two caps, and Melanotan 1 keeps that framework across all 13 residues.
What is the difference between Melanotan 1 and Melanotan 2?
Melanotan 1 is a linear 13 amino acid analogue of alpha-MSH, selective at MC1R. Melanotan 2 is a shorter cyclic peptide of seven amino acids with activity across more of the melanocortin receptors. NuVion stocks both separately.
What form does Melanotan 1 arrive in?
As a lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed vial. Bacteriostatic water is sold separately.

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