Knowra Monoamine oxidase Monoamine oxidase Monoamine oxidases are enzymes that catalyze oxidative deamination of monoamine neurotransmitters and related compounds. The two human forms, MAO-A and MAO-B, differ in substrate preference, tissue distribution, and inhibitor sensitivity.
Oxidative deamination : A chemical reaction that removes an amino group through oxidation, producing an aldehyde and ammonia. This is the reaction monoamine oxidases catalyze when they break down their substrates.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor : A drug or compound that reduces monoamine oxidase activity. These agents raise levels of monoamines by slowing their enzymatic breakdown.
Monoamine neurotransmitter : A neurotransmitter containing one amino group, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Monoamine neurotransmitters are central substrates whose signaling MAO helps terminate.
Mary Bernheim : An American biochemist who identified and characterized monoamine oxidase in the 1920s. Her early studies established the enzyme as a distinct catalyst of amine oxidation.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase : An enzyme that methylates catecholamines and catechol compounds. COMT offers a parallel route for catecholamine metabolism without oxidative deamination.
Monoamine oxidase A : A mitochondrial enzyme that metabolizes serotonin, norepinephrine, and other monoamines. MAO-A is one of the two human isoforms, with a characteristic substrate profile.
Phenelzine : An irreversible, nonselective monoamine oxidase inhibitor used to treat depression. It illustrates the antidepressant use of inhibiting both MAO-A and MAO-B.
Serotonin : A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and gastrointestinal function. MAO-A is a major route for serotonin breakdown.
Iproniazid : A drug first used against tuberculosis that was found to inhibit monoamine oxidase and elevate mood. Its unexpected effects helped reveal the potential of MAO inhibition in treating depression.
Serotonin transporter : A membrane protein that clears serotonin from synapses by reuptake into cells. Reuptake ends serotonin signaling by retrieval, whereas MAO breaks it down chemically.
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