Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 6/25/2007

Question
When stimulated by one of the cleavage products of proopiomelanocortin,
typically α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), Mc1r initiates a
complex signalling cascade that leads to the production of black or brown
eumelanin. In most mammals, this signal can be altered by the binding of
another protein to Mc1r. Agouti signalling peptide (Asip), a paracrine
signalling factor, anatagonizes α-MSH activation of Mc1r and results in a
switch to the production of red or yellow phaeomelanin. how can we bind
Asip protein to Mc1r in humans, therefore changing the person's hair color,
and where ca we find/buy Asip?

Answer
Dear Edouard,

The issue you are trying to address is far more complex than can be solved by simply buying Asip and administering it to humans to increase phaeomelanin expression.  Although both types of melanin (eumelanin and phaeomelanin) are found in human epidermis, the full enzymatically-driven cascade of melanogenesis and deposition of the pigment in humans is still not fully understood.  It is an area of ongoing research.

If you wanted to purchase Asip for research purposes, you could probably do so from any number of biotech companies, such as this one, that actually sythesizes "custom" peptides for research use:

http://www.celtek-peptides.com/

You will probably have to be affiliated with a university of other research institution to start this research.  I wish you good luck!

Dana