Melatonin synthesis

"Melatonin synthesis" describes the multi-step biochemical pathway by which the hormone melatonin is produced in animals, plants, and microorganisms. In animals, the process primarily occurs in the pineal gland and starts with L-tryptophan as the precursor. The major steps involve the sequential conversion of L-tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan (catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase), then to serotonin (by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase), followed by N-acetylation to N-acetylserotonin (via arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase / AANAT), and finally methylation to melatonin (via acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase / ASMT)[3][4][2]. Plants and some microorganisms also synthesize melatonin via similar or alternative enzyme pathways[1][5][4]. The pathway as a whole is not itself a therapeutic target, though individual enzymes within it, such as AANAT or ASMT, have been considered in pharmacological research. Key supporting details: - The enzymes involved in melatonin synthesis, like AANAT and ASMT, directly catalyze key steps, and research sometimes targets these individual enzymes rather than the pathway as a whole[3][2][1][4]. - Melatonin synthesis disruption can be relevant in diseases associated with circadian rhythm disruption, affective disorders, or sleep, but the pathway itself is not a drug target, only its products and some enzymes[4]. - The search term is imprecise for a molecular target: "Melatonin synthesis" refers to a process, not a discrete druggable entity or biomarker. If you are seeking information on druggable targets related to melatonin (such as melatonin receptors MT1/MTNR1A, MT2/MTNR1B, or the enzymes AANAT or ASMT), please specify a particular molecule or enzyme.

Other names

Melatonin biosynthetic pathwayMelatonin production pathwayMelatonin biosynthesis