Melanocortin
4006160
224836829
2008-07-10T17:11:53Z
83.202.19.101
/* Pharmacology */ update
{{Unreferenced|date=January 2008}}
'''Melanocortins''' are a group of [[pituitary]] [[peptide hormone]]s that include adrenocorticotropin ([[ACTH]]) and the alpha, beta and gamma [[melanocyte-stimulating hormone]]s (MSH) that derive from the prohormone [[proopiomelanocortin]].
Melanocortins act through a multitude of [[melanocortin receptor]]s designated MC1 through MC5. MC2 is also known as the [[adrenocorticotrophic hormone]] receptor since it selectively binds [[ACTH]]. The other melanocortin receptors are semi-selective in their ability to bind multiple melanocortins to some degree.
==Pharmacology==
Several synthetic melanocortins are in development including [[Melanotan]] (referred to by the [[International Nonproprietary Name]] ''afamelanotide'', formerly CUV1647)<ref name="Clinuvel-INN">{{Cite web|url=http://www.clinuvel.com/resources/pdf/asx_announcements/2008/20080617WHOGenericName.pdf|title=World Health Organisation assigns CUV1647 generic name|accessdate=2008-06-17|publisher=Clinuvel|year=2008|format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> by Clinuvel for [[sunless tanning]] and [[Palatin Technologies]]' [[bremelanotide]] for [[erectile dysfunction]] and [[sexual arousal disorder]].
==External links==
* {{MeshName|Melanocortins}}
[[Category:Peptide hormones]]
{{Organic-compound-stub}}