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Melatonin: Detoxification of Oxygen And Nitrogen-Based Toxic Reactants

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Developments in Tryptophan and Serotonin Metabolism

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 527))

Abstract

In the last decade, melatonin has been found to be highly protective against damage to macromolecules resulting from oxygen and nitrogen-based reactants. Considering this. numerous studies have examined the mechanisms whereby this indoleamine directly detoxifies these damaging agents. The evidence is compelling that melatonin scavenges several oxygen-derived reactive agents including the hydroxyl radical (OH), hydrogen peroxide (H207), singlet oxygen (’02) and hypochlorous acid (HOCI). Additionally, melatonin reportedly reacts with nitric oxide (NO), the peroxynitrite anion (ONOO“) and/or peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) to detoxify them. In some cases the products that are formed as a consequence of melatonin’s scavenging actions have been identified. Whereas the ability of melatonin to neutralize these toxic agents likely accounts, in part, for the antioxidant activity of melatonin, it is not the only means by which melatonin serves to protect molecules from oxygen and nitrogen-based reactive metabolites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, MC 7762, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703, Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900

    Russel J. Reiter, Dun-Xian Tan, C Manchester & Silvia Lopez Burillo

  2. University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    M. Sainz Juan & C. Mayo

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  1. Russel J. Reiter
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  2. Dun-Xian Tan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Graziella Allegri , Carlo V. L. Costa  & Eugenio Ragazzi ,  & 

  2. University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Hans Steinhart

  3. Istituto G. Gaslini, Genova Quarto, Italy

    Luigi Varesio

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Reiter, R.J., Tan, DX., Manchester, C., Lopez Burillo, S., Juan, M.S., Mayo, C. (2003). Melatonin: Detoxification of Oxygen And Nitrogen-Based Toxic Reactants. In: Allegri, G., Costa, C.V.L., Ragazzi, E., Steinhart, H., Varesio, L. (eds) Developments in Tryptophan and Serotonin Metabolism. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 527. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0135-0_62

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