Serotonin

From Health Encyclopedia

Contents 1 Used for 2 See for 3 Broader Terms 4 Related Terms 5 Scope Note 6 Facts (generated by robot; please edit if you find it inaccurate)

Used for

5 hydroxytryptamine

See for

5HT, biogenic amine

Broader Terms

neurotransmitter, tryptamine

Related Terms

hydroxyindoleacetate

Scope Note

biochemical messenger and regulator, synthesized from tryptophan; in humans it is found primarily in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and blood platelets.

Facts (generated by robot; please edit if you find it inaccurate)

• Serotonin is synthesized through 2-step process involving a tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent hydroxylation reaction (catalyzed by tryptophan-5-monooxygenase, also called tryptophan hydroxylase) and then a decarboxylation catalyzed by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.
• Serotonin is a neurotransmitter present throughout the body.
• When nerve cells containing it are activated, serotonin is released.
• The Harvard team's analysis suggests that serotonin is an evolutionarily ancient reward signal.
• Serotonin is critical to many brain functions, including the regulation of mood, heart-rate, sleep, appetite, pain, and many others.

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