Melanocortins

**Definition:** Peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) which can stimulate MELANOCYTES or CORTICOTROPHS. Melanocortins include ACTH; ALPHA-MSH; and other peptides such as BETA-MSH and GAMMA-MSH, derived from other fragments of POMC. These peptides act through a variety of MELANOCORTIN RECEPTORS to control different functions including steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, feeding, and skin pigmentation.

**Tree numbers:** - D06.472.699.327.935.531 - D06.472.699.631.525.600.531 - D12.644.400.400.935.531 - D12.644.548.365.935.531 - D12.644.548.691.525.690.531 - D12.776.631.650.405.935.531

**Synonyms:** - Melanocortin