General description

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), a complex pro-peptide is expressed in hypothalamus, pituitary gland, skin and the immune system. This gene is located on human chromosome 2p23.3.

Immunogen

synthetic α-MSH peptide conjugated to bovine serum albumin.

Application

Anti-α-MSH antibody produced in rabbit has been used in:

immunohistochemistry
radioimmunoassay/α-MSH immunoassay
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Biochem/physiol Actions

α-MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) and melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) are key signaling components in the control of energy homeostasis and of the hypothalamic response to obesity. Mutations that reduce the functional activity of -MSH lead to obesity in mammals and mice lacking the MC4 receptor (MC4R-/-) are hyperphagic and very obese, indicating that -MSH signaling transduced by MC4-R limits food intake and body fat mass.

α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH) stimulates the production of melanin in melanocytes and induced pigmentation and skin darkening. It increases the activity of tyrosinase that induces melanogenesis. α-MSH has potent anti-inflammatory effects and is also a neuromodulator. Analogs of α-MSH may be used to study melanogenesis and neuromodulation.

Physical form

Solution in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4, containing 15 mM sodium azide.

Disclaimer

Unless otherwise stated in our catalog or other company documentation accompanying the product(s), our products are intended for research use only and are not to be used for any other purpose, which includes but is not limited to, unauthorized commercial uses, in vitro diagnostic uses, ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic uses or any type of consumption or application to humans or animals.