ACTH (1-14)

ACTH (1-14) is a synthetic research peptide in the adrenocorticotropic hormone / melanocortin family. ACTH is a proopiomelanocortin-derived melanocortin peptide. The melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R) is the canonical ACTH receptor, while ACTH-derived sequences also contain melanocortin pharmacophore elements recognized by other melanocortin receptors. Truncations, D-amino-acid substitutions, and residue replacements are widely used to identify sequence determinants of MC2R binding, activation, and melanocortin receptor selectivity.

• receptor or ligand-binding assays
• competition studies
• biochemical or enzymatic assays
• analytical LC-MS/HPLC methods
• antibody controls
• cell-based experiments
• comparative structure-activity studies

For a fragment, residue-substituted analog, stereochemical variant, labeled peptide, or terminally modified form, experimental behavior should be evaluated for the exact construct rather than assumed to match the native parent peptide. Sequence-dependent solubility, aggregation, adsorption, oxidation, and stability should be considered when establishing reconstitution, storage, and assay conditions.

1. Novel binding motif of ACTH analogues at the melanocortin receptors
2. Molecular determinants of ACTH receptor for ligand binding and signaling