Melatonin Receptor Signaling: Finding the Path Through the Dark

doi:10.1126/stke.2001.107.pe39

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Sci. STKE, 6 November 2001
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.2001.107.pe39]

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Melatonin Receptor Signaling: Finding the Path Through the Dark

Monica I. Masana¹ and Margarita L. Dubocovich²

¹Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
² Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Drug Discovery Program, Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

Summary: Melatonin, dubbed "the hormone of darkness," is involved in relaying photoperiodic information to the organism. Not only is melatonin involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms and sleep, but it also has roles in visual, cerebrovascular, reproductive, neuroendocrine, and neuroimmunological functions. Melatonin mediates its effects through G protein-coupled receptors: MT₁, MT₂, and, possibly, MT₃. Pharmacological agents have been instrumental in identifying these receptor types. Masana and Dubocovich discuss how the level of receptor expression may alter their efficacy, so that caution is necessary when extrapolating the pharmacological properties of ligands defined on recombinant systems to the receptors in the organism. With these cautions in mind, they describe the various signaling pathways and physiological roles ascribed to the three melatonin receptor types.

Corresponding author: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry (S-215), Northwestern University Medical School, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Telephone: 312-503-8005, fax: 312-503-2334, e-mail: mdubo{at}northwestern.edu

Citation: M. I. Masana, M. L. Dubocovich, Melatonin Receptor Signaling: Finding the Path Through the Dark. Sci. STKE 2001, pe39 (2001).

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EDITORIAL GUIDES Focus Issue on Neuroscience: Molecular Components of Circadian Rhythms and Oscillations: John W. Nelson, Lisa D. Chong, and Nancy R. Gough (2 November 2001)
Sci. STKE 2001 (107), eg4. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.2001.107.eg4]
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