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Also known as: Melatonin
Melatonin is the body's primary circadian hormone, secreted by the pineal gland to signal darkness and regulate sleep timing. It is widely studied as a chronobiotic and antioxidant research compound. Note: Melatonin is a small-molecule hormone, not a peptide, though it appears in some research-compound catalogs.
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Melatonin is synthesized from serotonin via N-acetylation and O-methylation in pinealocytes, with secretion suppressed by light through retinohypothalamic input to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. It binds the G-protein-coupled MT1 and MT2 receptors, inhibiting cAMP and shifting circadian phase to promote sleep onset and entrainment. Beyond receptor signaling, melatonin acts as a direct free-radical scavenger and upregulates endogenous antioxidant enzymes. These combined chronobiotic and antioxidant actions underlie its research interest in sleep and aging.