Identification of novel hexapeptide agonists at the Xenopus laevis melanophore melanocortin receptor.

We used a combinatorial chemical approach to identify novel agonists for the endogenous melanocortin receptor expressed in Xenopus laevis melanophores. A random one-bead one-compound hexapeptide library was screened to detect new molecules able to induce pigment dispersion in melanophores. Our approach led to the discovery of seven related novel peptides able to stimulate pigment dispersion with EC50 in the range of 0.1-10 microM. Their action was inhibited by the amphibian melanocortin receptor antagonist dWRL. These novel peptides share no significant sequence homology with known melanocortins. This study may aid in the understanding of the chemical interaction between the melanocortin receptors and their ligands.