AUTHOR=Huang Yu , Li Jia , Bian Chao , Li Ruihan , You Xinxin , Shi Qiong 

TITLE=Evolutionary Genomics Reveals Multiple Functions of Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase in Fish

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.820442

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.820442

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>As an important hormone, melatonin participates in endocrine regulation of diverse functions in vertebrates. Its biosynthesis is catalyzed by four cascaded enzymes, among them, arylalkylamine <italic>N</italic>-acetyltransferase (AANAT) is the most critical one. Although only single <italic>aanat</italic> gene has been identified in most groups of vertebrates, researchers including us have determined that fish have the most diverse of <italic>aanat</italic> genes (<italic>aanat1a</italic>, <italic>aanat1b,</italic> and <italic>aanat2</italic>), playing various potential roles such as seasonal migration, amphibious aerial vision, and cave or deep-sea adaptation. With the rapid development of genome and transcriptome sequencing, more and more putative sequences of fish <italic>aanat</italic> genes are going to be available. Related phylogeny and functional investigations will enrich our understanding of AANAT functions in various fish species.</p>