J Pineal Res March 2013 PMID 23137057

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes.

Dun-Xian Tan, Lucien C Manchester, Xiaoyan Liu, Sergio A Rosales-Corral, Dario Acuna-Castroviejo, Russel J Reiter

Download social card

Mentions

29
Peak: 11 in Jan 2023
across 3 sources since Feb 2022

Extended reach

370,492
potential audience

Total likes

478

Video views

7,730

Mentions per month

Feb 2022 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter25 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Posts reflect interest through comments about the organelles' roles in melatonin synthesis, with phrases like 'protects mitochondria' and 'original site of melatonin production,' indicating engagement. Many liken mitochondria to the pineal gland, showing an appreciation of the study's significance, and referencing the hypothesis as potentially transformative for understanding cellular protection mechanisms.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the hypothesis, highlighting its plausibility and importance, especially with claims like mitochondria and chloroplasts being primary sites of melatonin synthesis and their roles in protecting cells.

InterestModerate interest

The social discussions show moderate interest, with some posts emphasizing the significance of the findings and proposing comparisons like mitochondria producing more melatonin than the pineal gland.

EngagementModerate engagement

Many posts reference specific functions, such as oxidative stress protection, and cite sources or prior research, indicating a moderate level of involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

Participants acknowledge the potential paradigm shift in understanding melatonin's origin, suggesting the research could influence future studies and biological concepts.

Abstract in brief

  • Mitochondria and chloroplasts are key sources of free radicals in cells, which makes their protection through antioxidants like melatonin crucial, and recent evidence suggests these organelles can synthesize and metabolize melatonin, with key enzymes identified within them.
  • The evolutionary history indicates that mitochondria originated from purple nonsulfur bacteria like Rhodospirillum rubrum, and chloroplasts from cyanobacteria; both bacteria are capable of synthesizing melatonin, and this capacity was likely transferred to host cells during endosymbiosis.
  • The hypothesis proposes that mitochondria and chloroplasts were the original sites of melatonin production in early eukaryotic cells, a function that has been conserved throughout evolution and may still be the primary site of melatonin synthesis in most cells today.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
@Grimhood · X

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes https://t.co/IY90ZI7ZPC Mitochondria > pineal gland for melatonin production. https://t.co/ZsX7RiVrYM

Jan 23, 2023 · 79 likes · 19 shares · 133,570 followers View post →
RootCause MD
@RootCauseDoctor · X

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis:a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes https://t.co/bgddm3DjuH

Feb 23, 2022 · 24 likes · 3 shares · 20,071 followers View post →
ENDALA klinika zdraví
@endalaclinic · X

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes - Tan - 2013 - Journal of Pineal Research - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/NuPWUZ3cH3

Feb 24, 2022 · 2 likes · 255 followers View post →
Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
@Grimhood · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Oct 14, 2023 · 19 shares · 133,570 followers View post →
J P Fanton
@HealthyFellow · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 25,992 followers View post →
Richard
@PGC1a_RB · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jun 2, 2025 · 19 shares · 14,986 followers View post →

All mentions

getnurut
@getnurut · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Sep 1, 2025 · 19 shares · 1,517 followers View post →
Richard
@PGC1a_RB · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jun 2, 2025 · 19 shares · 14,986 followers View post →
Frankie Birds
@FFBweather · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Feb 6, 2024 · 19 shares · 21 followers View post →
AngryPhDstudent❗️❗️❗️
@ONNESHA092 · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Oct 16, 2023 · 19 shares · 198 followers View post →
Madam Mitochondria
@Madam_Mito · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Oct 16, 2023 · 19 shares · 10,718 followers View post →
Monie
@GodiqueMoniq · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Oct 14, 2023 · 19 shares · 52 followers View post →
Buckeye089
@buckeye089 · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Oct 14, 2023 · 19 shares · 1,728 followers View post →
Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
@Grimhood · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Oct 14, 2023 · 19 shares · 133,570 followers View post →
alephh
@alephh · X

Mitochondria & chloroplasts as original sites of melatonin synthesis –High levels of melatonin produced by mitochondria & chloroplasts are used to protect these important cellular organelles against oxidative stress & preserve their physiological functions https://t.co/P5ZlnqIBou https://t.co/z5PWunGc7w

Feb 7, 2023 · 390 followers View post →
SunlightSleepObesitySpecialist
@kolaadetu · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 25, 2023 · 19 shares · 1,981 followers View post →
Silvia de Dios
@SilviadeDios12 · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 25, 2023 · 19 shares · 225 followers View post →
Idris Hud
@idrishud_ · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 280 followers View post →
untouchable488
@untouchable488 · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 291 followers View post →
Gentle Mutt
@GentleMutt · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 791 followers View post →
ResilientDad | Optimal Health By Nature
@ResilientDad · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 13,335 followers View post →
J P Fanton
@HealthyFellow · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 25,992 followers View post →
The Flesh Engineer
@FleshEngineer · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 24, 2023 · 19 shares · 47 followers View post →
Nicole Zimmerman
@FitBodyFam · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 23, 2023 · 19 shares · 22 followers View post →
Birendra Singh
@birendrasingh · X

RT @Grimhood: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary funct…

Jan 23, 2023 · 19 shares · 481 followers View post →
Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
@Grimhood · X

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes https://t.co/IY90ZI7ZPC Mitochondria > pineal gland for melatonin production. https://t.co/ZsX7RiVrYM

Jan 23, 2023 · 79 likes · 19 shares · 133,570 followers View post →
Alejandro Zoccola
@zoccosunlight · X

RT @RootCauseDoctor: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis:a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary…

Jun 22, 2022 · 3 shares · 236 followers View post →
kike
@FUENTESMANZULLI · X

RT @RootCauseDoctor: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis:a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary…

Apr 18, 2022 · 3 shares · 249 followers View post →
@lambchops/specstocks
@BlueskyandRyeg1 · X

RT @RootCauseDoctor: Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis:a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary…

Mar 3, 2022 · 3 shares · 1,011 followers View post →
ENDALA klinika zdraví
@endalaclinic · X

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis: a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes - Tan - 2013 - Journal of Pineal Research - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/NuPWUZ3cH3

Feb 24, 2022 · 2 likes · 255 followers View post →
RootCause MD
@RootCauseDoctor · X

Mitochondria and chloroplasts as the original sites of melatonin synthesis:a hypothesis related to melatonin's primary function and evolution in eukaryotes https://t.co/bgddm3DjuH

Feb 23, 2022 · 24 likes · 3 shares · 20,071 followers View post →