Biotinyl-Melanin-Concentrating Hormone from salmon

Biotinyl-Melanin-Concentrating Hormone from salmon is a chemically modified variant of the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) that naturally occurs in salmon, tailored for advanced research into hormonal signaling pathways affecting pigmentation. In salmon and other fish species, MCH plays a pivotal role in skin color adaptation by causing the aggregation of melanin granules within melanophores, leading to a lighter skin complexion. The biotinylation of MCH significantly enhances its research applications, enabling precise tracking and quantification in experimental setups due to biotin′s strong affinity for binding proteins like avidin and streptavidin. This modification allows researchers to study the hormone′s binding dynamics to its receptors on melanophores, and to explore the subsequent intracellular signaling cascades that regulate pigment concentration. By facilitating the visualization and measurement of hormone-receptor interactions and the effectiveness of signal transduction within cells, biotinylated MCH from salmon becomes a powerful tool in cell biology and physiology studies. It helps explain the mechanisms by which hormones influence cellular functions specifically related to pigmentation, providing deeper insights into the control of physiological color changes in fish, entirely within the scope of basic scientific research.