[JAK]

Originally Posted by SB_UK STAT - STAT be more like JAK-STAT (especially you J.R. Gremlin Esq.) ~ you guys ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAK-STAT_signaling_pathway *tyrosine* -<- magic in that there aromatic hydrophilic freak ^ | Y ->- *dopamine* ^ | the bifurcqin shape says it all

The amino acid, tyrosine, is the original precursor in the chain: tyrosine, L-dopa, dopmine, noradrenaline, and epinephrine. All appear important to "fight or flight" behaviors, the sympathetic nervous system, and consciousness.

Regarding cytokines, prevalent in your JAK-STAT link, they appear related to the brain's ability to modulate the immune system:
"... Cytokines are generally known as chemical messengers between immune cells. As such, they play a crucial role in mediating inflammatory and immune responses. The discovery a decade or two ago that cytokines signal the brain and serve as mediators between immune and nerve cells is far-reaching in its implications. The brain is now seen as capable of influencing immune processes. ..." http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/...full/157/5/683

The failure of the immune system appears symptomatic of death in rats suffering from sleep deprivation (Allan Rechtschaffen):
"... All rats chronically deprived of sleep by an automated apparatus died after about 2-3 weeks; REM-deprived rats survived about twice as long. ..."
http://www.npi.ucla.edu/sleepresearc...eep_dreams.htm

Homeostasis appears to be part of the parasympathetic nervous system which is more closely associated with tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin as well as immuno-function and sleep.

SB_UK, sell me on the usefulness of JAK-STAT. Where does it fit into the scheme of things? What part of the brain, mind, and/or emotion does it participate?

Thanks!