title: A Genetic Basis for Motivated Exercise.
abstract: Prior research has demonstrated a genetic basis for motivated exercise, with evidence of a role for nescient helix-loop-helix-2 (NHLH2/Nhlh2). Nhlh2 transcriptionally regulates the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) gene. This article examines the evidence for the hypothesis that polymorphisms in NHLH2 or MAO-A contribute to differences in the human motivation for exercise and physical activity. The genetic pathways that link exercise and motivation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, and 2Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Mengjiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kirby
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deater-Deckard
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D009042:Motivation / Q000235:genetics*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D056564:Sirtuin 1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004298:Dopamine; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D056564:Sirtuin 1; C583260:DRD1 protein, human; C076747:NHLH2 protein, human; C447939:SIRT1 protein, human