title: New evidence for cross talk between melatonin and mitochondria mediated by a circadian-compatible interaction with nitric oxide.
abstract: Extending our previous observations, we have shown on HaCat cells that melatonin, at ~10-9 M concentration, transiently raises not only the expression of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mRNA, but also the nNOS protein synthesis and the nitric oxide oxidation products, nitrite and nitrate. Interestingly, from the cell bioenergetic point of view, the activated NO-related chemistry induces a mild decrease of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) efficiency, paralleled by a depression of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The OXPHOS depression is apparently balanced by glycolysis. The mitochondrial effects described have been detected only at nanomolar concentration of melatonin and within a time window of a few hours' incubation; both findings compatible with the melatonin circadian cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy. paolo.sarti@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarti
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Magnifico
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mastronicola
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arese
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002460:Cell Line; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D008550:Melatonin