Serotonin

**Serotonin** // "The Molecule of Happiness" // =__Brief History of Serotonin:__=

Serotonin (IUPAC name: 3-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-indol-5-ol, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, Enteramine, Antemoqua, Antemovis, Hippophain, 3-(beta-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxyindole) is a neurotransmitter, a type of chemical that helps send signals from one region of the brain to another. It was first isolated in 1948 by Maurice M. Rapport, Arda Alden Green and Irvine H. Page, researchers from the Research Division of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland. Rapport and colleagues initially purified serotonin using beef serum as the starting material (due to serotonin being found in great abundance in blood platelets and it's ability of being able to constrict blood vessels), and from there the word serotonin was created: sero- because of it's initial purification from serum and -tonin for it's ability to constrict, or "increase the tone" of blood vessels. The initial studies of serotonin did not expect the molecule's amazing and profound effects on the human brain.

Now, scientists know that serotonin is associated with the central nervous system of humans. Some call it the "molecule of happiness" due to it's effects on the human brain, and research is still being carried out to study serotonin's interesting effects on the human brain. ==

=__Certain Properties of Serotonin:__=

 C 10 H 12 N 2 O
 * Empirical Formula:**

 176.2 amu.
 * Molecular Mass:**

**Melting Point (of certain serotonin compounds):** Serotonin creatine sulfate monohydrate ( C 10 H 12 N 2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O. C <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">9 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">N <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">3 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">5 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">S.H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O ) MP = 220 C Serotonin hydrochloride ( C <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">10 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">12 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">N <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O.HCl ) MP = 167 - 168 C Serotonin hydrogen maleate ( C <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">10 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">12 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">N <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O. C <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;"> ) MP = 154 - 158 C Serotonin hydrogen oxalate ( C <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">10 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">12 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">N <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O.C <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">2 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">O <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; vertical-align: sub;">4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;"> ) MP = 195 - 200 C

=__Synthesis of Serotonin:__=

Serotonin is created by a unique biochemical process in the human brain. Synthesis of serotonin begins with the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is found in foods such as bananas, pineapples, plums, turkey and milk. The enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase adds a hydroxyl group to tryptophan's benzene ring at position number 5, which results in the creation of 5-hydroxytryptophan. From there, another enzyme called amino acid decarboxylase removes a carboxyl group from the 5-hydroxytryptophan and produces 5-hydroxytryptamine, which is most commonly known as the neurotransmitter serotonin. = = = = =__Serotonin and the Human Body:__=

As stated earlier, serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a type of chemical that helps sends signals from one region of the brain to another) and is involved in many important life functions of the human body such as mood regulation, appetite, sleep, temperature regulation, pain perception, sexual behaviour/function, some forms of social behaviour, endocrine regulation (controls the release of other hormones), memory and learning, cardiovascular function and since it is found in blood platelets, helps with blood clotting. Irvine H. Page is reported to have said that before the discovery of serotonin, no other physiological substance known had such diverse actions in the body. The average human adult possess only 5 to 10 milligrams of serotonin, of which 90% is found in the intestine and the remaining 10% found in the blood platelets and brain.

=__How Serotonin Binds to Receptors:__=

The neurotransmitter serotonin is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Packets of serotonin (called vesicles) are released from the end of the presynaptic cell into the synaptic cleft. From here, the serotonin molecules can begin to bind to receptor proteins within the postsynaptic cell; this causes an electrical change in the cell, which can either "excite" the cell and pass along the chemical, or "inhibit" the cell and prevent the chemical from passing through. Any excess serotonin molecules are taken up by the presynaptic cell and reprocessed.

The neurons responsible for releasing serotonin in the brain are found in small dense groups or collections called Ralphe Nuclei; Ralphe Nuclei are found in the medulla, pons, and midbrain which are all located at the very top of the spinal cord/nerve. As well, there are serotonergic neurons that have axons, which project to many different parts of the brain; because of this, serotonin affects many parts of the brain and as well, many different behaviours. = =

=__Other Facts About Serotonin:__=

Did you know? Serotonin levels can be napticpartially controlled by diet; a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and complex carbohydrates (as well as Vitamin C for the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin) raise the level of tryptophan. Another way to increase serotonin levels is with vigorous exercises, which studies have shown that serotonin levels are increased and that the production level of serotonin is increased a few days after the exercise. Anti-depressants may be recommended for severe cases of depression (symptoms may include anxiety, fear, apathy, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia, and fatigue), which block the re-uptake of serotonin at the presynaptic cell causing serotonin to stay at the sy cleft.

Serotonin is also found in wasp stings and scorpion venom, where it functions as an irritant. Although serotonin is a "wonder-drug", it can cause symptoms of pain, gasping, coughing, a tingling and prickling sensation, nausea, cramps, and other unpleasant symptoms when injected intravenously.

Serotonin is also found in animals, as well as plants and fungi.

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a powerful hallucinogenic drug which mimics serotonin in the brain. The brain "mistakes" LSD for serotonin and "shoots" LSD through the synaptic cleft instead of serotonin, preventing serotonin from doing it's job as a neurotransmitter and sending neural messages in the brain. LSD is able to mimic serotonin because of their close structural similarities, the electron density of the highest occupied molecular orbital of both compounds and their dipole moments of the two molecules (2.98 debye for serotonin, and 3.04 debye for LSD). LSD causes psychedelic hallucinations and visions.



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Taken by Kevin Tran, Block C of Chem 11 = =

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