Biomaterial Database

Regulation of the circadian rhythm in pineal melatonin production. 1985

H Illnerová, and J Vanĕcek

The pineal gland exhibits a circadian rhythm in the activity of N-acetyltransferase, the enzyme responsible for the rhythmic production of melatonin. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the N-acetyltransferase rhythm is regulated by a two-oscillator pacemaker. The evening N-acetyltransferase rise is controlled by an evening oscillator coupled to dusk, the morning decline by a morning oscillator coupled to dawn. The phase-relationship between both oscillators may determine the period of high night N-acetyltransferase activity and hence the period of elevated melatonin level. This period is different during long and short days and it may provide animals with information about environmental day duration.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D010870	Pineal Gland	A light-sensitive neuroendocrine organ attached to the roof of the THIRD VENTRICLE of the brain. The pineal gland secretes MELATONIN, other BIOGENIC AMINES and NEUROPEPTIDES.	Epiphysis Cerebri,Pineal Body,Corpus Pineale,Gland, Pineal,Pineal Bodies,Pineal Glands
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001191	Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of acetyl groups from ACETYL-COA to arylamines. It can also catalyze acetyl transfer between arylamines without COENZYME A and has a wide specificity for aromatic amines, including SEROTONIN. However, arylamine N-acetyltransferase should not be confused with the enzyme ARYLALKYLAMINE N-ACETYLTRANSFERASE which is also referred to as SEROTONIN ACETYLTRANSFERASE.	Arylamine Acetylases,Arylamine Acetyltransferases,Acetyl-CoA Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase,Arylamine Acetylase,Acetyl CoA Arylamine N Acetyltransferase,Acetylase, Arylamine,Acetylases, Arylamine,Acetyltransferases, Arylamine,Arylamine N Acetyltransferase,Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase, Acetyl-CoA,N-Acetyltransferase, Acetyl-CoA Arylamine,N-Acetyltransferase, Arylamine
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus