Potent endogenous melanocortin receptor 2 (MC2) agonist (EC50 = 57 pM). Component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that stimulates glucocorticoid production and release from the adrenal cortex. Induces insulin resistance, promotes a proinflammatory profile and stimulates UCP-1 in adipocytes in vitro.