melanocortin


melanocortin

Any of a family of peptide hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and the different isoforms of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), which are produced endogenously from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the pituitary gland or synthesised under controlled chemical reactions. Melanocortins act by binding to and activating melanocortin receptors.