Amino Acid Sequence Ac-Cys-Glu-His-diCl-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Cys-Pro-Pro-Lys-Asp-NH2 Biochem/physiol Actions HS028 (cyclic [AcCys11, dichloro-D-phenylalanine14, Cys18, Asp-NH2(22)]-beta-MSH11-22) showed high affinity (Ki of 0.95nM) and high (80 fold) MC4 receptor selectivity over the MC3 receptor. HS028 antagonised a alpha-MSH induced increase in cyclic AMP production in transfected cells expressing the MC3 and MC4 receptors, whereas it seemed to be a partial agonist for the MC1 and MC5 receptors. Chronic intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administration of HS028 by osmotic minipumps significantly increased both food intake and body weight in a dose dependent manner without tachyphylaxis for a period of 7 days. This is further evidence that the MC4 receptor is an important mediator of long term weight homeostasis. |