Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation
Alanine
Ala / A · hydrophobic residue · neutral charge
AOD-9604
is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials
Arginine
Arg / R · basic residue · positive charge
Argireline
is a topical cosmetic peptide reported to decrease dynamic wrinkles by partially mimicking the mechanism of botulinum toxin in a non-invasive manner
Asparagine
Asn / N · polar residue · neutral charge
Aspartic acid
Asp / D · acidic residue · negative charge
BPC-157
is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects
Comparison
While Melanotan I is approved in some regions for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria and is studied as a skin-darkening, photoprotective peptide3444, MOTS-c improves insulin sensitivity, enhances glycolysis, reduces oxidative stress, and shows protective effects in models of metabolic syndrome, aging, and ischemia-reperfusion injury8135146.
While Melanotan I works as a linear 13-amino-acid analog of α-MSH (afamelanotide) that selectively activates MC1R on melanocytes, increasing eumelanin synthesis and providing photoprotection3444, MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide that translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress and regulates glucose and lipid metabolism largely via activation of AMPK and modulation of mTOR and folate-cycle–linked pathways854140146.
Melanotan I
POMC
MOTS-c
MT-RNR1
Melanotan I and MOTS-c are noticeably different, with limited direct overlap in their usual biological context. Their typical research and application settings separate fairly clearly: Melanotan I is more often discussed in the realm of Dermatology and aesthetics, whereas MOTS-c is more often associated with the realm of Metabolic and endocrine and Aging and longevity. They also influence different molecular systems, with Melanotan I tracking more closely to Melanocortin receptor while MOTS-c centers more on Mitochondrial membrane. Melanotan I has a more synthetic analog origin, while MOTS-c is closer to mitochondrial-encoded background with Melanotan I approved for Research use only and MOTS-c in Preclinical development. Melanotan I incorporates d-amino acid substitution features that are not part of MOTS-c, while their sequence patterns also diverge, with Melanotan I showing protein-mimetic sequence features and MOTS-c showing hydrophobic domain features.
No related articles are linked to these peptides yet.