Melatonin: a multitasking molecule
- PMID: 20478436
- DOI: 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)81008-4
Melatonin: a multitasking molecule
Abstract
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has revealed itself as an ubiquitously distributed and functionally diverse molecule. The mechanisms that control its synthesis within the pineal gland have been well characterized and the retinal and biological clock processes that modulate the circadian production of melatonin in the pineal gland are rapidly being unravelled. A feature that characterizes melatonin is the variety of mechanisms it employs to modulate the physiology and molecular biology of cells. While many of these actions are mediated by well-characterized, G-protein coupled melatonin receptors in cellular membranes, other actions of the indole seem to involve its interaction with orphan nuclear receptors and with molecules, for example calmodulin, in the cytosol. Additionally, by virtue of its ability to detoxify free radicals and related oxygen derivatives, melatonin influences the molecular physiology of cells via receptor-independent means. These uncommonly complex processes often make it difficult to determine specifically how melatonin functions to exert its obvious actions. What is apparent, however, is that the actions of melatonin contribute to improved cellular and organismal physiology. In view of this and its virtual absence of toxicity, melatonin may well find applications in both human and veterinary medicine.
Similar articles
-
Medical implications of melatonin: receptor-mediated and receptor-independent actions.Adv Med Sci. 2007;52:11-28. Adv Med Sci. 2007. PMID: 18217386 Review.
-
Melatonin--a pleiotropic, orchestrating regulator molecule.Prog Neurobiol. 2011 Mar;93(3):350-84. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.12.004. Epub 2010 Dec 28. Prog Neurobiol. 2011. PMID: 21193011 Review.
-
Human pineal physiology and functional significance of melatonin.Front Neuroendocrinol. 2004 Sep-Dec;25(3-4):177-95. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2004.08.001. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2004. PMID: 15589268 Review.
-
Functional pleiotropy of the neurohormone melatonin: antioxidant protection and neuroendocrine regulation.Front Neuroendocrinol. 1995 Oct;16(4):383-415. doi: 10.1006/frne.1995.1014. Front Neuroendocrinol. 1995. PMID: 8557171 Review.
-
Localization and biological activities of melatonin in intact and diseased gastrointestinal tract (GIT).J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;58(3):381-405. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007. PMID: 17928638 Review.
Cited by
-
Chondroprotective effect of melatonin and strontium ranelate in animal model of osteoarthritis.Heliyon. 2021 Apr 13;7(4):e06760. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06760. eCollection 2021 Apr. Heliyon. 2021. PMID: 33912721 Free PMC article.
-
Aging and vascular dysfunction: beneficial melatonin effects.Age (Dordr). 2013 Feb;35(1):103-15. doi: 10.1007/s11357-011-9336-z. Epub 2011 Nov 23. Age (Dordr). 2013. PMID: 22109832 Free PMC article.
-
Antiplatelet Effect of Melatonin through Breastfeeding: A Pediatric Case Report.Children (Basel). 2023 Nov 23;10(12):1839. doi: 10.3390/children10121839. Children (Basel). 2023. PMID: 38136041 Free PMC article.
-
Exercise Interventions Improved Sleep Quality through Regulating Intestinal Microbiota Composition.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 28;19(19):12385. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912385. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. PMID: 36231686 Free PMC article.
-
Alleviating effects of melatonin on oxidative changes in the testes and pituitary glands evoked by subacute chlorpyrifos administration in Wistar rats.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012 Aug;2(8):645-50. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60113-0. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012. PMID: 23569987 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
