Melatonin promotes sleep by activating the BK channel in <i>C. elegans</i>
Longgang Niu, Yan Li, Pengyu Zong, Ping Liu, Yuan Shui, Bojun Chen, Zhao‐Wen Wang
Abstract
Significance Melatonin (Mel) promotes sleep through G protein-coupled Mel receptors. However, the downstream molecular target(s) of the Mel receptors to produce the sleep effect remains enigmatic. The study shows that a potassium channel, the BK channel, plays a role in sleep and that Mel promotes sleep by activating this channel through a specific Mel receptor.
Topics & Concepts
MelatoninReceptorSleep (system call)Potassium channelMelatonin receptorEndocrinologyChemistryInternal medicineCell biologyBiologyNeuroscienceMedicineBiochemistryComputer scienceOperating systemCircadian rhythm and melatoninGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior