Biological trick reveals key step in melatonin's ...( s removal of the phosphate and destruct...)

s removal of the phosphate and destruction of the enzyme, leading to a rapid drop off in melatonin. "Now we can fish for unknown players in the degradation of the enzyme and hopefully find the trigger than leads to its light-activated destruction," says Zheng.

They've already shown that the phosphate group on building block number 31 also improves the enzyme's ability to bind to a protein known as 14-3-3, further increasing the enzyme's stability and delaying its degradation.

Cole adds that the mimic Zheng developed will do far more than just ease study of melatonin's daily cycles. Literally thousands of important proteins are controlled by the addition or removal of phosphate groups, he says, offering thousands of opportunities to use the mimic to help understand cellular processes and their controls.

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Contact: Joanna Downer
jdowner1@jhmi.edu
410-615-5105
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
26-Oct-2003

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