High melatonin solubility in aqueous medium.
J Pineal Res
; 16(4): 198-201, 1994 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7807375
The pineal hormone melatonin (5-methoxy-N-acetyl-tryptamine) has been reported to participate in important physiological processes. Although some of its biological actions seem to depend on a protein receptor at the membrane surface, melatonin is known to interact with a large variety of tissues and cells, suggesting that the molecule may not necessarily interact through a specific membrane receptor at a specific cell. Most discussions of melatonin activity have assumed that the molecule is highly hydrophobic. Contrary to belief, the present work shows that melatonin is soluble in a purely aqueous medium up to 5 x 10(-3) M and describes a new method of melatonin preparation which shows the high hydrophilicity of the molecule. The results presented will affect the current biological hypothesis on the need of a melatonin carrier in the blood stream or the mechanisms which allow the hormone to cross the cell membrane and interact at the level of the nucleus.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Água
/
Melatonina
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Pineal Res
Assunto da revista:
ENDOCRINOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
1994
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
País de publicação:
Reino Unido