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Transcriptional regulation and multiple functions of MAO genes

  • Basic Neurosciences, Genetics and Immunology - Review Article
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Abstract

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and MAO B are a crucial pair of isoenzymes, which oxidatively deaminate monoamine neurotransmitters and dietary amines with a production of hydrogen peroxide. These two isoenzymes have different but overlapping substrate and inhibitor specificities. MAO A and MAO B share 70% amino acid sequence identity and show different temporal and spatial expressions in both humans and mice. Abnormal MAO A or MAO B activity has been implicated in numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. A better understanding of the transcriptional regulation of MAO A and MAO B genes may help explain the differential tissue-specific expression of these two isoenzymes and provide insights into the molecular basis of the disorders associated with MAO dysfunction. This review discusses the recent progress in the transcriptional regulation and multiple functions of MAO A and MAO B genes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant R37MH39085 (MERIT Award), R01MH67968, and the Boyd and Elsie Welin Professorship.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Room 518, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA

    Jean C. Shih, Jason Boyang Wu & Kevin Chen

  2. Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA

    Jean C. Shih

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Correspondence to Jean C. Shih.

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Shih, J.C., Wu, J.B. & Chen, K. Transcriptional regulation and multiple functions of MAO genes. J Neural Transm 118, 979–986 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-010-0562-9

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