Chemical switch cuts off melatonin
A newly synthesized substance is expected to promote wakefulness by turning off production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
References:
Khalil, E., and P.A. Cole. 1998. A potent inhibitor of the melatonin rhythm enzyme. Journal of the American Chemical Society 120(June 24):6195.
Further Readings:
1995. Hormones help elderly sleep. Science News 148(Sept. 9):175.
Gastel, J.A. . . .D.C. Klein. 1998. Melatonin production: Proteasomal proteolysis in serotonin N-acetyltransferase regulation. Science 279(Feb. 27):1358.
Raloff, J. 1995. Drug of darkness. Science News 147(May 13):300.
Sources:
Philip A. Cole
Rockefeller University
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry
1230 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
E-mail: cole@rockvax.rockefeller.eduDavid C. Klein
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology
Bethesda, MD 20892-4480
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