Melatonin promotes sleep by activating the BK channel in <i>C. elegans</i>

Abstract

Significance Melatonin (Mel) promotes sleep through G protein-coupled Mel receptors. However, the downstream molecular target(s) of the Mel receptors to produce the sleep effect remains enigmatic. The study shows that a potassium channel, the BK channel, plays a role in sleep and that Mel promotes sleep by activating this channel through a specific Mel receptor.