title: Melatonin production in the sea star Echinaster brasiliensis (Echinodermata).
abstract: The primary hormone of the vertebrate pineal gland, melatonin, has been identified broadly throughout the tree of life, in animals, plants, and fungi, supporting a deep evolutionary origin for this signaling molecule. However, some key groups have not been studied. Echinoderms, deuterostome animals, are one of these groups. Herein we study the presence of melatonin and enzymes of its pathway in the sea star Echinaster brasiliensis. We demonstrate that E. brasiliensis produces endogenous melatonin, in the gonads, under a circadian pattern with a nocturnal peak of production. We also show that the enzymes arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) are present and are probably regulating the melatonin production.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, 1st floor, Room 118, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil; and.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.forename: Fernanda Gaspardo
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: José Cipolla
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Neto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047068:Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005835:Genitalia / Q000201:enzymology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013215:Starfish / Q000378:metabolism*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D047068:Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D008550:Melatonin