Melatonin in razor clam Sinonovacula constricta: Examination of metabolic pathways, tissue distribution, and daily rhythms

Melatonin affects physiological processes that have circadian and seasonal cycles and causes behavioural changes in nearly all organisms, ranging from bacteria to mammals. However, no studies have focused on the presence, biosynthetic pathway, and rhythms of melatonin in bivalves, which are considered as the class of molluscs with the highest economic value. Here, the metabolic pathway and tissue distribution of melatonin, tissue transcription profiles of melatonin-related genes [key synthases arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase type 2 and 5 (aanat2, aanat5), N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase (asmt), and melatonin receptor type 1 A1 and C3 (MTNR1A1, MTNR1C3)], daily changes in melatonin, transcripts of genes, and effects of four lights (blue, cyan, orange, and red) during the night on melatonin secretion were studied in a bivalve species, razor clam Sinonovacula constricta. Our results showed the presence of complete metabolic and circadian entrainment pathways of melatonin. The melatonin content in the lymphocytes and labial palp was higher than that in the other studied tissues, and aanat2, aanat5, asmt, MTNR1A1, and MTNR1C3 mRNA levels were the highest in the labial palp. Melatonin fluctuated rhythmically in lymphocytes and labial palps and increased at night. Similarly, aanat2, aanat5, asmt, MTNR1A1, and MTNR1C3 mRNA levels were rhythmic in the labial palp, peaking at night. In addition, blue light effectively inhibited the nocturnal secretion of melatonin in the clam. In summary, our results suggest that melatonin plays a role in light signal transduction and the circadian system in S. constricta.