title: Melatonin as a central molecule connecting neural development and calcium signaling.
abstract: Melatonin (MEL) is a neuroendocrine hormone secreted by the pineal gland in association with the suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral tissues. MEL has been observed to play a critical role in the reproductive process and in the fetomaternal interface. Extrapineal synthesis has been reported in mammalian models during pregnancy, especially by the placenta tissue. MEL can regulate intracellular processes (e.g., G-proteins) and the activity of second messengers (e.g., cAMP, IP(3,) Ca(2+)). During neurodevelopment, these activities regulated by melatonin have an important role as an intracellular signaling for gene expression regulation. To review the role of MEL in neurodevelopment, we built interactome networks of different proteins that act in these processes using systems biology tools. The analyses of interactome networks revealed that MEL could modulate neurodevelopment through the regulation of Ca(2+) intracellular levels and influencing BMP/SMAD signaling, thus affecting neural gene responses and neuronal differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Faria Poloni
authors.forename: Bruno César
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Feltes
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonatto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D047108:Embryonic Development; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin