Pteridines as nonretinal regulators of light-dependent melatonin biosynthesis.
- 1 May 1980
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Vol. 77 (5) , 2415-2418
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.77.5.2415
Abstract
6-Formylpterin was purified by paper chromatography, and bovine pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (S-adenosyl-L-methionine:N-acetylserotonin O-methyl-transferase; EC 2.1.1.4) was purified by flat-bed gel electrofocusing. Fractions of the methyltransferase with isoelectric points at pH 5.0, 5.7 and 5.2 were tested in the presence of 6-formylpterin and decreased activities were found. Because 6-formylpterin is a photolytic product of folic acid and decreased serum folic acid was reported in light-exposed men, pteridines may be involved in nonretinal effects of light on pineal melatonin biosynthesis. The metabolic pathway may be an evolutionary relic of primitive light responses of pigmentation mechanism.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- Melatonin Synthesis by the RetinaScience, 1979
- A survey of some active sheep pineal fractions and a discussion on the possible significance of pteridines in those fractions inin vitro andin vivo assaysJournal Of Neural Transmission-Parkinsons Disease and Dementia Section, 1979
- A Chemical Study of Some Biologically Active Pineal FractionsPublished by Elsevier ,1979
- The Effect of Pteridines on Multiple Forms of Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) in the Retina and the Pineal GlandPublished by Elsevier ,1979
- Skin Color and Nutrient Photolysis: An Evolutionary HypothesisScience, 1978
- Physiological effects of melatonin. Chairman's introduction.1978
- Separation of pineal extracts by gelfiltrationJournal Of Neural Transmission-Parkinsons Disease and Dementia Section, 1977
- [Melatonin biosynthesis in the mammalian retina in dependence of light adaptation (author's transl)].1975
- Isolation and Characterization of Multiple Forms of Hydroxyindole-O-MethyltransferaseJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1971
- Purification and Properties of Hydroxyindole-O-methyl TransferaseJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1961