Melatonin madness
Article Abstract:
Melatonin does not increase the life of mammals and shows no antioxidant activity at physiological levels. Melatonin is a pineal gland hormone with neurobiological activities. It acclimatizes circadian rhythms in mammals in the presence of light, inhibits dopamine secretion, controls photopigment disc shedding and phagocytosis in the mammalian retina. Melatonin induces sleep in humans through a thermoregulatory pathway. The melatonin receptor genes are structurally similar. The receptors belong to the guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1995
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Forward genetic approach strikes gold: cloning of a mammalian Clock gene
Article Abstract:
The mammalian circadian rhythm is regulated by the Clock gene which was localized in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of mice. The SCN of the mammalian brain modulates the biological clock based on strategically positioned nuclei that receive input for light-dark entrainment. Mutations in the SCN region of Syrian mice also induced alterations in the circadian rhythm and SCN transplant experiments involving the tau gene demonstrated the circadian clock function of the SCN.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1997
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MCRY1 and mCRY2 are essential components of the negative limb of the circadian clock feedback loop
Article Abstract:
Cryptochrome genes mCry1 and mCry2 are redundant but vital components of the clock feedback loop's negative limb. Aside from being rhythmically expressed in the suprachiasmatic circadian clock, mCry1 and mCry2 are nuclear proteins that interact with each of the mPER proteins and translocate each mPER protein from cytoplasm to nucleus. Analysis also shows that the two genes exert substantial effects on the prevention of CLOCK:BMAL1-induced transcription in cell lines.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1999
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