database / melanocortin
α-MSH
also known as alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone
Skeletal structure drawn from the computed atomic coordinates in PubChem CID 16133793. Carbons are implicit vertices; hydrogens on carbon are suppressed, as in any structural formula. Nothing here is estimated — every atom sits where PubChem placed it.
Research reference only. The observations below are recorded in the cited literature. Nothing here is advice or a recommendation, and no dosing information is published on this site.
Sequence
SYSMEHFRWGKPV
Ser-Tyr-Ser-Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val
- hydrophobic
- positive
- negative
- polar
- aromatic
- glycine
- proline
- cysteine
Modified molecule. N-acetylated with a C-terminal amide in the endogenous form.
Backbone carries modifications, so computed backbone mass is not comparable to the reported mass of the complete molecule.
Molecular data
| molecular formula | C77H109N21O19S |
|---|---|
| molecular weight | 1664.9 Da (PubChem) |
| computed backbone mass | 1623.85 Da |
| length | 13 residues |
| net charge (pH 7.4) | +1 |
| mean hydropathy | -0.92 |
| half-life | not characterised |
| delivery route | not characterised |
| PubChem CID | 16133793 |
| PDB | not characterised |
| UniProt parent | P01189 |
Mechanism
Endogenous melanocortin agonist; the parent of the MT-I/MT-II analogue family.
Reported targets: MC1R MC3R MC4R MC5R
Experimental structure
No experimental structure of this peptide is deposited in the PDB. Nothing is rendered here — a predicted fold would not be a structure, and this site does not draw one.
Position in the parent protein
…GPLPEGGPEPRSDGAKPGPREGKRSYSMEHFRWGKPVGKKRRPVKVYPNGAEDESAEAFPL…
Parent sequence from UniProt P01189. α-MSH is the ACTH(1-13) cleavage product of POMC.
Reported effects
Each row is an outcome described in the literature indexed for this peptide. Reported in the cited work — not a claim, not a recommendation.
| reported outcome | where it appears |
|---|---|
| melanogenesis | Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone promotes functional recovery in periphe… Neuropharmacology 2026 |
| anti-inflammatory activity | Corrigendum to "Desacetyl-alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and alpha-mel… Molecular metabolism 2026 |
Literature (8)
Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone promotes functional recovery in peripheral olfactory dysfunction by modulating bulbar neuroinflammation and enhancing neuronal maturation — Neuropharmacology 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 42492629 · DOI 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111115
Corrigendum to "Desacetyl-alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone are required to regulate energy balance" [Mol Metab 9 (2018) 207-216/29226825] — Molecular metabolism 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 42097551 · DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2026.102380
Treatment of nitrogen mustard-induced corneal injury with alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone — Experimental eye research 2025
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 40639768 · DOI 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110515
Dissecting the Impact of α-MSH-MC1R-cAMP Signaling on UVA-Induced Stress in Fibroblasts - Implications for Regulation of Cutaneous Photoaging — Aging and disease 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 41747169 · DOI 10.14336/ad.2025.1518
Ethanolic Extract of <i>Padina arborescens</i> Suppresses Melanogenesis and Attenuates UVB-Induced Photodamage in Cellular and Zebrafish Models — International journal of molecular sciences 2026
Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces complex skin damage, including hyperpigmentation, oxidative stress, and alterations in proteins related to keratinocyte differentiation and epidermal barrier-associated status. This study investigated the multifunctional protective effects of Padina arborescens ethanolic extract (PAEE) against skin damage in melanocytes, keratinocytes, and zebrafish. In alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells, PAEE effectively suppressed the protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway, which was associated with reduced expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase, leading to decreased melanin synthesis. PAEE also exhibited photoprotective properties by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)…
open access ↗ · PMID 42074027 · DOI 10.3390/ijms27083382
Anti-inflammatory treatment using alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) does not alter osteoblasts differentiation and fracture healing — BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2025
BackgroundAlpha-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone (α-MSH) has been identified as a new anti-inflammatory treatment compound in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases. However, its direct effect on bone cell differentiation or on bone regeneration, which is an inflammatory process, too, has not been investigated, yet. Bone tissue is significantly affected in inflammatory joint diseases. Additionally, inflammatory signaling is essential -in bone regeneration during fracture healing. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of α-MSH-treatment on bone forming cells in an inflammatory setting in vitro and as a treatment approach in a murine fracture healing model in vivo.MethodsThe influence of α-MSH treatment and melanocortin-receptor expression patterns was investigated in vitro in the presence of either IL-1β or/and TNF-α as an inflammatory stimulus. Osteoblast cell function was …
open access ↗ · PMID 39915758 · DOI 10.1186/s12891-025-08374-9
Effects of melanocortin receptor agonists and antagonists on exploratory activity: a review — General and comparative endocrinology 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 41558543 · DOI 10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114885
Comparative Efficacy of Skin-Lightening Formulations in Suppressing Ultraviolet B (UVB)-Induced Arachidonic Acid, Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH), and Melanin Expression: An In Vitro Keratinocyte-Melanocyte Co-culture Study — Cureus 2025
BackgroundMelasma is a chronic hyperpigmentary disorder exacerbated by sun exposure, characterized by asymptomatic hyperpigmented macules and patches. Its pathogenesis involves ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced activation of melanogenesis pathways, including arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) secretion, and melanin synthesis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-ingredient skin-lightening formulation (3% tranexamic acid, 2% ascorbyl glucoside, 2.5% arbutin, and 5% niacinamide) compared to a 10% vitamin C preparation and 4% hydroquinone (HQ) in suppressing UVB-induced AA, α-MSH, and melanin production in a keratinocyte-melanocyte co-culture model.MethodsKeratinocyte-melanocyte co-cultures were pretreated with the multi-ingredient formulation, 10% vitamin C, or 4% HQ before UVB irradiation (150 mJ/cm2). Distilled water served as the neg…
open access ↗ · PMID 40091954 · DOI 10.7759/cureus.78908
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