AANAT
- Known as:
- AANAT
- Catalog number:
- 000872A
- Product Quantity:
- 250ul
- Category:
- -
- Supplier:
- ABM
- Gene target:
- AANAT
Related genes to: AANAT
- Gene:
- AANAT NIH gene
- Name:
- aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase
- Previous symbol:
- -
- Synonyms:
- SNAT
- Chromosome:
- 17q25.1
- Locus Type:
- gene with protein product
- Date approved:
- 1995-12-13
- Date modifiied:
- 2014-11-19
Related products to: AANAT
Related articles to: AANAT
- Melatonin (MT) is an indoleamine primarily produced by the pineal gland in a light-dark-dependent manner; however, it is also locally synthesized in the testis, where it influences male reproductive physiology upon interaction with its receptors (MT1/MT2), the binding started the bio-signaling inside the cells mediated by MT. This review outlines the intratesticular effects of MT, addressing seasonal and non-seasonal mammals. In rodents, Leydig, Sertoli, and germ cells contain enzymatic machinery to produce MT, with MT1/MT2 signaling influencing androgen production through cAMP-dependent and independent pathways and interacting with local Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH), serotoninergic, and catecholaminergic systems to regulate steroidogenesis and testicular plasticity. In non-seasonal species, Sertoli cells express MT1/MT2 and react to melatonin through alterations in proliferation, expression of spermatogenesis-related genes, and restructuring of glycolytic and acetate metabolism, thus modifying energetic support to germ cells. In seasonal breeders like rams and roe deer, MT1/MT2, N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) are found in testicular cells, spermatozoa, and the epididymis. Exogenous MT treatments are linked to advancements in the breeding season, increased testicular size and enhanced testosterone secretion in rams. MT1/MT2 were reported in spermatozoa from several seasonal and non-seasonal mammalian species and MT frequently was detected in seminal plasma, where they are involved in motility, capacitation, cryotolerance, and antioxidant protection. Therefore, suggesting that MT serves as a conserved but diversified intratesticular signal that integrates photoperiodic, metabolic, and cytoprotective regulation of male fertility. - Source: PubMed
Publication date: 2026/09/16
Cesauri MattiaVentrella DomenicoFanelli DianaElmi Alberto - Newly hatched chicks are susceptible to opportunistic pathogens because of their immature intestinal barrier and developing microbiota. This study investigated whether continuous in ovo monochromatic light exposure was associated with intestinal microbial and mucosal phenotypes at hatch. Compared with the other light treatments, green-light exposure was associated with increased pineal Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) expression, elevated plasma melatonin, enhanced phospho- Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (p-Nrf2)-related antioxidant signaling, reduced Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) expression, and lower intestinal nitrate concentrations. These changes were accompanied by limited respiratory substrate availability for facultative anaerobes, promoting the competitive enrichment of obligate probiotics (Clostridium), increased tryptophan-related metabolites, enhanced Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/Interleukin (IL)-22-related markers, reduced LPS/Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)/Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response Gene 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-associated inflammatory signaling, and improved intestinal barrier-associated phenotypes. In vitro experiments further showed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) attenuated LPS-induced epithelial injury through AhR-related signaling. Together, these findings support a working model in which continuous in ovo green-light exposure may promote early intestinal mucosal maturation through coordinated host redox, microbial, and metabolic responses. However, functional perturbation and longitudinal studies are required to establish the causality and post-hatch persistence of these associations. - Source: PubMed
Publication date: 2026/08/17
Ma ZiyuWang ZixuCao JingDong YulanChen Yaoxing - The intensification of livestock production has heightened public concern about animal welfare, with aggressive behavior recognized as a key determinant of both welfare and productivity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are critical post-transcriptional regulators, have emerged as important modulators of animal behavior. This study investigated the molecular basis of aggression in pigs ( ), focusing on miRNA-mediated regulation. Hypothalamic miRNA-sequencing of the most aggressive ( =4) and least aggressive ( =4) piglets identified nine differentially expressed miRNAs. Among these, miR-27a was significantly upregulated in aggressive individuals. Functional assays demonstrated that both porcine miR-27a and its human ( ) ortholog has-miR-27a-3p, suppressed autophagy, apoptosis, and neuronal plasticity in primary porcine neurons and human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. To clarify the underlying mechanisms, mRNA-sequencing was performed on porcine neurons transfected with miR-27a mimics or negative controls, identifying 436 differentially expressed genes (84 upregulated and 352 downregulated). Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses highlighted eight genes- , , , , , , , and -associated with tryptophan metabolism, oxidative stress, and long-term synaptic depression. Bioinformatic analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-27a directly targets the 3'-UTR of , thereby suppressing of autophagy, apoptosis, and neuronal plasticity. , intrahypothalamic injection of mmu-miR-27a-3p in mice ( ) reduced motor function and social dominance, and placed the mice at a competitive disadvantage, while supressing neuronal autophagy, apoptosis and plasticity. - Source: PubMed
Chao Xiao-HuanZhang Chun-LeiYang HuanXu Qing-LeiLiu Ming-ZhengChen Jia-HaoLiu Shu-HanWang Zi-MingDing YuanBi Hong-WeiGuo WenFan Jun-HongZhou Meng-JunMa Jian-ShengMuhammad AsimMuhammad MubashirZhou Bo - Melatonin is not only produced by the pineal gland but is also synthesized in extrapineal organs. It plays a key role in antioxidant defense and immune regulation during pregnancy. Two key rate-limiting enzymes are involved in the melatonin synthesis, aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT). Nevertheless, it remained unclear whether pregnancy affects the expression of AANAT and ASMT in extrapineal organs. In this study, ovine maternal thymus, spleen, liver, lymph nodes, thyroid, duodenum, and endometrium were collected on day 16 of the estrous cycle (N16), and on days 13, 16, 25, and 70 (G70) of gestation ( = 6 per group). The expression of AANAT and ASMT in these extrapineal organs was analyzed using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that pregnancy upregulated the expression of AANAT in the liver and ASMT in the thymus and duodenum, but downregulated AANAT expression in the lymph nodes and duodenum. Moreover, AANAT expression was elevated in the thymus and spleen but reduced in the thyroid and endometrium at G70 compared with N16. ASMT expression was increased in the lymph nodes yet decreased in the spleen, liver, and thyroid at G70 compared with N16. Notably, endometrial ASMT expression showed a pregnancy-stage-specific manner with no significant difference between N16 and G70. In summary, this paper reports, for the first time in sheep, that pregnancy modulates the expression of AANAT and ASMT in these extrapineal organs in a pregnancy-stage- and tissue-specific manner. - Source: PubMed
Publication date: 2026/07/17
Xu YanshuHou HaozheYang YangGao DongshengZhang LeyingYang Ling - Melatonin signalling, mediated by membrane receptors and tightly regulated biosynthetic enzymes, is a key component of circadian and neuroendocrine control in the brain. However, whether the tryptophan-melatonin axis remains hierarchically intact during glioma progression and how its disruption affects downstream signalling remain unclear. In this study, transcriptomic data from TCGA, CGGA, and GTEx were integrated to characterize the expression patterns of melatonin receptors (MTNR1A and MTNR1B) and biosynthetic enzymes (AANAT and ASMT) across normal brain tissue, lower-grade glioma and glioblastoma. Protein expression was validated by immunohistochemistry, and functional consequences were investigated through gain- and loss-of-function experiments in glioma cells, followed by proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and signalling analyses. Multi-layered analyses revealed a coordinated disruption of the tryptophan-melatonin axis during glioma progression. Expression of AANAT, ASMT, MTNR1A and MTNR1B progressively declined with increasing tumour grade and was associated with poor prognosis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed reduced MTNR1A and ASMT protein expression in glioma tissues. Restoration of these factors suppressed glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion while promoting apoptosis. Mechanistically, these effects were accompanied by inhibition of AKT, ERK and STAT3 signalling. These findings demonstrate that hierarchical disruption of receptor- and synthesis-dependent melatonin signalling is a defining molecular feature of glioma and may contribute to malignant progression through activation of AKT/ERK/STAT3 pathways, providing new insights into the biological and therapeutic relevance of the tryptophan-melatonin axis in glioma. - Source: PubMed
Tan BoYao SuqiuHe ShuangyinChen TaoChen HanYang WenfuTang XiyuanXu TingtingZhang JiajieYin XiaohongChen YingSong Peng