NDP-MSH, 5-TAMRA-labeled

Product Name: NDP-MSH, 5-TAMRA-labeled

Sequence One Letter Code: 5-TMR-SYS-Nle-EHfRWGKPV-NH2

Sequence Three Letter Code: 5-TMR-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2

Chemical Formula:C101H129N23O22

Molecular Weight: 2017.3

Purity: 95%

Form: Lyophilized

Storage Conditions: - 20 °C Protected from light

Research Area: Peptide Series

Source / Species: Human, bovine, rat

Conjugation: Conjugated

Conjugation Type: Fluorescent dyes

Code Nacres: NA.26

Application: NDP-MSH, 5-TAMRA-labeled is a fluorescent analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone incorporating norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7 to enhance receptor affinity and metabolic stability. The peptide is conjugated at the N-terminus with 5-TAMRA (Ex/Em 544/572 nm), enabling direct visualization in cellular systems. NDP-MSH exhibits potent agonistic activity at melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R), supporting studies of melanogenesis, pigmentation regulation, and receptor trafficking. The fluorescent label facilitates receptor-binding assays, internalization studies, and quantitative imaging applications. This probe is widely used in dermatological research, GPCR signaling investigations, and photoprotection studies where real-time monitoring of melanocortin receptor dynamics is required.

Current Research: NDP-MSH, 5-TAMRA-labeled is a fluorescently tagged analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) engineered for enhanced receptor affinity, metabolic stability, and real-time visualization in cellular systems. This analog incorporates norleucine (Nle) at position 4 and D-phenylalanine (D-Phe) at position 7, substitutions that significantly increase potency and resistance to enzymatic degradation compared with native α-MSH. Conjugation of 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (5-TAMRA) at the N-terminus provides a robust fluorescent signal with spectral properties of Ex/Em 544/572 nm, enabling direct detection in microscopy and plate-based fluorescence assays. Melanocortin Receptor Targeting NDP-MSH is a potent agonist of melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R), a family of class A G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) that regulate pigmentation, energy homeostasis, steroidogenesis, and inflammatory responses. Among these, MC1R is the primary receptor involved in melanogenesis within melanocytes. Activation of MC1R stimulates G_s-mediated signaling, increasing intracellular cAMP and activating protein kinase A (PKA). This leads to upregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and downstream expression of melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase. The Nle⁴ and D-Phe⁷ substitutions enhance receptor binding affinity and prolong signaling duration, making NDP-MSH one of the most widely used melanocortin receptor agonists in research settings. The addition of 5-TAMRA preserves agonistic activity while enabling fluorescent tracking. Fluorescent Imaging and Receptor Dynamics The 5-TAMRA label allows direct visualization of receptor binding, membrane localization, and ligand-induced internalization. Because TAMRA emits in the orange-red spectrum, it is well suited for multicolor imaging experiments with minimal spectral overlap with GFP-based reporters. This fluorescent probe supports: Live-cell receptor binding assays Confocal microscopy of receptor trafficking Quantification of ligand internalization kinetics Co-localization studies with endosomal markers Flow cytometry–based receptor occupancy analysis By combining high receptor potency with a stable fluorescent tag, NDP-MSH, 5-TAMRA enables precise analysis of melanocortin receptor activation and intracellular routing. Applications in Pigmentation and Photobiology Research Melanocortin signaling is central to UV-induced pigmentation and photoprotection. Activation of MC1R enhances eumelanin production, which provides protection against ultraviolet radiation–induced DNA damage. Fluorescent NDP-MSH facilitates mechanistic studies examining receptor responsiveness under UV exposure, oxidative stress, and inflammatory conditions. In dermatological research, the probe is applied to investigate: Melanocyte signaling pathways Pigmentation disorders MC1R polymorphism–dependent signaling differences Photoprotective gene expression profiles Because MC1R variants are associated with altered melanoma risk and pigmentation phenotypes, fluorescent ligand binding assays are valuable for characterizing receptor function in variant-expressing cells. Broader GPCR and Endocrine Applications Beyond pigmentation biology, melanocortin receptors influence appetite regulation (MC3R/MC4R), adrenal steroidogenesis (MC2R), and immune modulation. The fluorescent NDP-MSH analog enables receptor pharmacology studies across multiple melanocortin subtypes, supporting investigation of signaling bias, receptor desensitization, and internalization dynamics. The defined spectral properties (Ex 544 nm / Em 572 nm) make the peptide compatible with standard fluorescence microscopes and plate readers equipped for rhodamine detection. Its stability and high affinity allow consistent experimental performance in both imaging and quantitative assays. Experimental Advantages Enhanced receptor affinity and stability (Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷ substitutions) Direct fluorescent detection via 5-TAMRA Potent agonist activity at MC1R–MC5R Suitable for live-cell imaging and quantitative assays Compatible with multicolor fluorescence platforms Overall, NDP-MSH, 5-TAMRA-labeled provides a powerful molecular probe for studying melanocortin receptor biology. By combining strong agonistic activity with fluorescent visualization capability, it supports detailed investigation of receptor binding, signaling cascades, melanogenesis regulation, and GPCR trafficking dynamics in dermatological and endocrine research models.