1.MT-1 (eller Melanotan I,eller afamelanotid,eller CUV-1647) är en syntetisk analog av peptider naturen hos endogen melanokortin peptid alfa-melanocytstimulerande hormon. Det har hormoner natur såväl som vanliga proteinegenskaper. Metallothioneiner(MTs) är cysteinrika metallbindande proteiner som potentiellt är involverade i zinkhomeostas och fria radikaler. The expression pattern of MT-1 and the binding activity of various MT-1 promoter elements were investigated after mild focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. Transient focal ischemia was induced by occluding both common carotid arteries and the right middle cerebral artery for 30 min. By the use of real-time quantitative PCR, a 10-fold increase in MT-1 and -2 mRNA levels was found in the cortex 24 hr after reperfusion.
2.Afamelanotide was specifically developed by American scientists LED by V.Hruby in 1991 as a possible research compound that can be used against skin cancer by stimulating tanning system which in own turn would generate protective natural tan during melanogenesis.So that synthetic analog was created to determine if it can show the same effect and stimulate melanocytes to produce and release melanin to protect skin from UV.Most of studies and trials were conducted in United States and Australia.
3.Developed research compound is quite stable cyclic form of original hormone but specifically has much longer half-life period.It works as agonist of specific melanocortin receptor and possesses such property as being selective;And thus it promotes increased level of eumelanin above usual pheomelanin,which provides higher efficacy of photoprotection abilities.
4.Melanotan-I is a synthetic hormone that is stimulating the release of melanocyte-hormone in animal cells. These melanocyte-hormones are the ones responsible for the pigmentation of the skin due to their interaction with melanocortin-1 receptors in the epidermis. These hormones are being released from the pars intermedia of the pituitary glands in some of the eukaryotic animal species. i alla fall, these are also prominent in the keratinocytes and the melanocytes of the human skin.