A peptide agonist of MC4R; increases cAMP production in CHO-K1 cells expressing MC4R, MC1R, MC3R, and MC5R (EC50s = 0.27, 5.8, 5.3, and 1,600 nM, respectively, for the human receptors) but not in cells expressing MC2R (EC50 = >10 µM); inhibits food intake in MC3R, but not MC4R, knockout mice at 6.4 µmol/animal; reduces food intake and hepatosteatosis, induces weight loss, and decreases serum insulin, glucose, and leptin levels in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity at 300 nmol/kg per day