A cyclic melanocortin-receptor peptide used as a reference in GPCR and receptor-binding research.
What it is
Bremelanotide (PT-141) is a cyclic melanocortin-receptor peptide with formula C50H68N14O10 and an average molecular weight near 1025.2. Its cyclic architecture stabilizes the receptor-binding conformation, and it falls within the melanocortin research category.
Research and regulatory context
PT-141 has been developed and approved as a medicine in some markets. For laboratory purposes it is supplied only as a reference reagent and is widely used as a tool compound in melanocortin-receptor pharmacology research, particularly studies of MC1R and MC4R.
Why it is referenced
As a well-characterized melanocortin agonist, PT-141 is a common positive control in GPCR binding and signaling assays. Reference lots are specified at ≥98% HPLC purity to support reproducible receptor-pharmacology work in vitro.