Nature 208, 386 (23 October 1965); doi:10.1038/208386a0

Enzymatic Synthesis of the Skin-lightening Agent, Melatonin, in Amphibians

JULIUS AXELROD, WILBUR B. QUAY & PETER C. BAKER

National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.

MELATONIN (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has been shown to be the most effective skin-lightening agent in amphibians^1,2. This compound produces changes in pigmentation by causing the aggregation of melanin granules within the amphibian melanocyte. Although melatonin has been found to occur in mammals, no evidence for its formation has been obtained in amphibians where it exerts its most potent effects. High concentrations of radioactivity have been observed in the pineal area of the amphibian Xenopus laevis after the administration of the melatonin precursors ¹⁴C-5-hydroxytryptamine and ¹⁴C-methylmethionine³.

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