Monoamine oxidases in development.
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are flavoproteins of the outer mitochondrial membrane that catalyze the oxidative deamination of biogenic and xenobiotic amines. In mammals there are two isoforms (MAO-A and MAO-B) that can be distinguished on the basis of their substrate specificity and their sensitivity towards specific inhibitors. Both isoforms are expressed in most tissues, but their expression in the central nervous system and their ability to metabolize monoaminergic neurotransmitters have focused MAO research on the functionality of the mature brain. MAO activities have been related to neurodegenerative diseases as well as to neurological and psychiatric disorders. More recently evidence has been accumulating indicating that MAO isoforms are expressed not only in adult mammals, but also before birth, and that defective MAO expression induces developmental abnormalities in particular of the brain. This review is aimed at summarizing and critically evaluating the new findings on the developmental functions of MAO isoforms during embryogenesis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Chi Chiu
CC
Wang
Ellen
E
Billett
Astrid
A
Borchert
Hartmut
H
Kuhn
Christoph
C
Ufer
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D055808:Drug Discovery; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase