KPV is the three-residue C-terminal fragment of alpha-MSH. What it is, how it is transported in cell models, and how far the published evidence goes.
KPV is a tripeptide: lysine, proline, valine (Lys-Pro-Val). It is the last three residues, positions 11 to 13, of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), the same 13-residue hormone that Melanotan I and Melanotan II are modelled on. Its molecular weight is about 342 Da, which makes it one of the smallest materials in the catalogue.
Being a fragment matters. The receptor-binding core of alpha-MSH is the His-Phe-Arg-Trp sequence at positions 6 to 9, which KPV does not contain. Published work therefore does not describe KPV as a melanocortin receptor agonist in the way the full hormone or the Melanotan analogues are. Its reported activity in cell and animal models is attributed to other mechanisms, and that is still an open area.
Most of the KPV literature is from in vitro and rodent work on inflammatory signalling, with a particular focus on the gut.
| Finding | Model | Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|
| Transported into intestinal epithelial cells by the peptide transporter PepT1 | Cell culture | In vitro, demonstrated |
| Reduced NF-kB activation in stimulated cells | Cell culture | In vitro, reported |
| Reduced inflammation scores in chemically induced colitis | Mouse | Animal, reported |
| Any effect in people | None published | No human data |
The 2008 paper by Dalmasso and colleagues in Gastroenterology is the most cited source for the transporter and colitis findings. Later groups have formulated KPV in nanoparticles and hydrogels for oral delivery in mice, which tells you about the delivery system in that model and nothing about the plain peptide in any other setting.
| Material | Length | Relationship to alpha-MSH |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha-MSH | 13 residues | The natural hormone |
| Melanotan I | 13 residues | Two substitutions, linear |
| Melanotan II | 7 residues, cyclic | Core region, ring-closed |
| KPV | 3 residues | C-terminal tail only |
The practical consequence is that the Melanotan literature, with its melanocortin receptor pharmacology, should not be read across to KPV. They share a parent and not a mechanism. The Melanotan materials are covered on the Melanotan II identity page.
A tripeptide this small is straightforward to characterise. Mass spectrometry confirms the expected mass, and HPLC reports purity as the share of signal in the main peak. The guide to reading a peptide COA explains what the certificate can and cannot show: identity and purity of the sample tested, and nothing about biological activity.
Materials sold on this site are supplied solely for non-clinical in-vitro laboratory research. They must not be ingested, injected, inhaled, applied or otherwise administered to a human or animal.
We do not provide dosing, routes of administration, treatment guidance, cosmetic-use guidance or in-vivo protocols. Preparation, storage and handling must follow a validated institutional SOP, the material documentation and an appropriate risk assessment.
A practical checklist for matching a peptide certificate to its sample and separating identity, purity, measured content and report authenticity.
Research DocumentationWhat Melanotan II is, how it relates to alpha-MSH, which melanocortin receptors it binds, and why it has never been a licensed medicine anywhere.
Site materials are supplied solely for non-clinical in-vitro laboratory research. They must not be used in or on humans or animals. We do not provide dosing, routes of administration, treatment, cosmetic-use or in-vivo guidance. Read the legal and research-use terms.