A genetic familial study of monoamine oxidase B activity and concentration in alcoholics.
Platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity and concentration were studied in a small sample of alcoholic families (n = 8) and in 20 unrelated, nonalcoholic controls. Complex segregation analyses of familial data indicated that both activity and concentration are controlled by a single major gene locus with a multifactorial background effect accounting for 0-50% of the variance. When the alcoholic family members (n = 24) were compared with the controls, all determinations of activity display significant differences, whereas MAO B concentration levels showed no difference. These results indicated that the lowered MAO B activities frequently reported among alcoholics do not reflect a change in the number of MAO B macromolecules expressed in platelets, but could be caused by the presence of an inhibitor or by a polymorphic or variant form of the enzyme.
Devor
E J
EJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242-1057.
Cloninger
C R
CR
Kwan
S W
SW
Abell
C W
CW
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008970:Molecular Weight; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors
D005819:Genetic Markers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase