Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

15.3K
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
15.3K
Mitochondrial Membranes01:45

Mitochondrial Membranes

12.5K
A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
12.5K
The Pineal Gland01:02

The Pineal Gland

2.7K
The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
2.7K
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

328
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
328
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting01:39

Mitochondrial Protein Sorting

4.5K
Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles of the eukaryotes involved in cellular metabolism, signaling, ATP synthesis, and programmed cell death.  Each of these processes requires specific proteins and enzymes that must be correctly sorted to the right mitochondrial subcompartment for the proper functioning of the organelle.
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...
4.5K
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane01:28

The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane

3.7K
The inner mitochondrial membrane is the primary site of ATP synthesis. The inner membrane domain that forms a smooth layer adjacent to the outer membrane is called the inner boundary membrane. This domain contains membrane transporters that drive metabolites in and out of the mitochondria.  In contrast, the inner membrane network that invaginates into the matrix space is called the cristae membrane. This domain accounts for principle mitochondrial function as it accommodates the protein...
3.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Antitumor Effects of Melatonin in Luminal and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells: Metabolic Reprogramming, Redox Regulation, and Cellular Dynamics.

Cancers·2026
Same author

Multiaxial Biophysical Control of Oncogenic Phase Separation by Indoleamines: A Proof-of-Concept Synthesis of Landscape-Level Regulation.

Journal of pineal research·2026
Same author

Genotoxicity Integration into Bioprocess Optimization Reveals Progressive DNA Damage During Bioreactor Expansion of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Melatonin Targets Mitochondrial Redox Homeostasis: Optimizing the Intracellular Microenvironment.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Phytochemical frontiers and molecular targets in liver cancer: A systematic bibliometric curation of natural compounds for HCC therapy (2015-2025).

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie·2026
Same author

Retinal pigment epithelium pathology in age-related macular degeneration: mitigation with melatonin.

Frontiers in medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs
08:15

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs

Published on: August 15, 2025

290

Melatonin: A mitochondrial resident with a diverse skill set.

Russel J Reiter1, Ramaswamy Sharma1, Sergio Rosales-Corral2

  • 1Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.

Life Sciences
|May 6, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Melatonin, an ancient molecule originating in bacteria, is synthesized in mitochondria and chloroplasts. This vital compound acts as an antioxidant and anti-cancer agent, crucial for mitochondrial health and disease prevention.

Keywords:
Acetyl coenzyme aPyruvate metabolismSIRT3Tunneling nanotubescancersepsis

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.6K
Live-imaging of Mitochondrial System in Cultured Astrocytes
06:20

Live-imaging of Mitochondrial System in Cultured Astrocytes

Published on: November 16, 2021

4.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs
08:15

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs

Published on: August 15, 2025

290
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.6K
Live-imaging of Mitochondrial System in Cultured Astrocytes
06:20

Live-imaging of Mitochondrial System in Cultured Astrocytes

Published on: November 16, 2021

4.2K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Melatonin is an ancient molecule with origins in bacteria.
  • Early eukaryotes engulfed prokaryotes, leading to mitochondria and chloroplasts that retained melatonin synthesis.
  • Mitochondria exhibit higher melatonin concentrations than other cellular compartments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of mitochondrial melatonin synthesis in cellular functions.
  • To explore the implications of disrupted mitochondrial melatonin synthesis in diseases.
  • To highlight melatonin's antioxidant and anti-cancer properties within mitochondria.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on melatonin synthesis and function.
  • Identification of enzymes arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and acetylserotonin-O-methyltransferase in mitochondria.
  • Analysis of melatonin's effects on mitochondrial homeostasis and cell transformation.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondria and chloroplasts synthesize melatonin, with higher concentrations in mitochondria.
  • Melatonin synthesis occurs in oocyte and brain mitochondria from serotonin.
  • Melatonin functions as a potent antioxidant, anti-cancer agent, regulates sirtuin 3, and promotes mitochondrial transfer.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondrial melatonin synthesis is crucial for maintaining oxidative homeostasis and preventing cancer.
  • Dysregulation of mitochondrial melatonin synthesis may contribute to various mitochondria-related diseases.
  • Melatonin's multifaceted roles underscore its importance in cellular health and disease prevention.