PRODUCTS SOLD ON PEPTIDESLABIRELAND.COM ARE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT FOR HUMAN OR VETERINARY USE.
Fast Ireland delivery — dispatched to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and nationwide.
PRODUCTS SOLD ON PEPTIDESLABIRELAND.COM ARE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT FOR HUMAN OR VETERINARY USE.
Fast Ireland delivery — dispatched to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and nationwide.
By the Peptides Lab Ireland research team · Updated July 2026 · Research use only
Of all the melanocortin compounds Irish research groups ask us about, Melanotan 1 is the one most often confused with something else. People type “MT-1” and mean MT-2; they read about one and order the other. The two are related, but they are not interchangeable, and if you are setting up a pigmentation or melanocortin-receptor protocol the difference actually matters. This reference clears that up and covers what you need to source and handle MT-1 for laboratory work in Ireland.
Melanotan 1 (MT-1) is the research name for afamelanotide, a linear 13-amino-acid analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It was designed to resist the rapid enzymatic breakdown that limits native α-MSH, giving it a far longer functional half-life while keeping the same broad melanocortin activity. Structurally it is a straight-chain peptide — not the cyclic ring that defines MT-2 and PT-141 — and that single structural fact explains most of how it behaves in receptor studies.
Both are α-MSH analogues and both drive melanogenesis through MC1R, so in a pigmentation model they look superficially similar. The practical differences come down to structure and selectivity. MT-1 is linear and its research literature sits mostly around MC1R-driven pigmentation biology. MT-2 is a cyclic heptapeptide with stronger, broader melanocortin engagement, which is why it turns up in appetite and reproductive-neuroendocrinology research as well as pigmentation. If your protocol is specifically about MC1R and melanin pathways, MT-1 is usually the cleaner tool; if you need the wider melanocortin response, that is MT-2 territory.
| MT-1 (afamelanotide) | MT-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Linear 13-aa | Cyclic heptapeptide |
| Receptor breadth | MC1R-focused, some MC3-5R | Broad MC1-5R, high potency |
| Typical research focus | Pigmentation / melanogenesis | Pigmentation + appetite + reproductive |
| Relative potency | Moderate | Higher |
If you are still deciding between them, our Melanotan-2 reference covers the other side of the comparison in the same detail.
MT-1 arrives lyophilised and needs reconstituting with bacteriostatic water before use. The volume you add sets your working concentration, so choose it around the doses your protocol calls for rather than by habit.
| Diluent added | Working concentration | Volume for common research amounts |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 ml bac water | 10 mg/ml | 250 µg → 25 µl · 500 µg → 50 µl · 1 mg → 100 µl |
| 2.0 ml bac water | 5 mg/ml | 250 µg → 50 µl · 500 µg → 100 µl · 1 mg → 200 µl |
Add the diluent slowly down the vial wall rather than straight onto the powder, and let it dissolve without shaking. Full method is in our reconstitution guide, and you will need bacteriostatic water to hand before you start.
Lyophilised MT-1 is stable for long periods at −20 °C and tolerates shipping at ambient temperature for the short transit times involved in Irish delivery. Once reconstituted, keep it at 2–8 °C and expect roughly three to four weeks of reliable stability; label the vial with the reconstitution date so nobody in the group is guessing later. Our cold-chain and storage guide goes into the detail if you are running a shared fridge.
Melanotan 1 is not authorised as a medicinal product for general sale in Ireland or the EU, and it is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and educational use — not for human or veterinary use. The one nuance worth knowing is that afamelanotide itself is the active ingredient in a licensed prescription-only treatment for a rare photosensitivity condition, which is a separate regulated context entirely and not what research-grade MT-1 is sold for. If you want the wider picture, see our explainers on whether peptides are legal in Ireland and the HPRA framework for research peptides.
Peptides Lab Ireland supplies HPLC-verified Melanotan 1 with a per-batch Certificate of Analysis, independently tested by Optima Labs, dispatched from Irish stock to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and nationwide. You can see current pricing and purity data on the MT-1 product page. If you are not sure how to read the purity documentation, our guide to reading a Certificate of Analysis walks through what each figure means.
For laboratory research use only. Not intended for human or veterinary use.
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