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Melatonin site and mechanism of action: Single or multiple?
Author(s) -
Cardinali Daniel P.,
Golombek Diego A.,
Rosenstein Ruth E.,
Cutrera Rodolfo A.,
Esquifino Ana I.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1997.tb00332.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , mechanism of action , mechanism (biology) , action (physics) , site of action , medicine , biology , biochemistry , physics , in vitro , quantum mechanics
By affecting the entrainment pathways of the biologic clock, melatonin has a major influence on the circadian and seasonal organization of vertebrates. In addition, a number of versatile functions that far transcend melatonin actions on photoperiodic time measurement and circadian entrainment have emerged. Melatonin is a free radical scavenger and antioxidant and it has a significant immunomodulatory activity, being presumably a major factor in an organism's defense toxic agents and invading organisms. Besides affecting specific receptors in cell membranes to exert its effects, the interaction of melatonin with nuclear receptor sites and with intracellular proteins, like calmodulin or tubulin‐associated proteins, as well as the direct antioxidant effects of melatonin, may explain many general functions of the pineal hormone.