Description
It is the most important of the melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs; also known as melanotropins) in stimulating melanogenesis, a process which in mammals (including humans) is responsible for pigmentation primarily of the hair and skin. It also plays a role in feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, and sexual activity. It is generated as a proteolyic cleavage product from ACTH (1-13), which is in turn a cleavage product of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)