monoamine oxidase

Thân thiện

A scientist studies the monoamine oxidase enzyme in a laboratory.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An enzyme: A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.
   • Catalyzes oxidation: Specifically, it facilitates the oxidation (a chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons, often with the addition of oxygen) of monoamine compounds.
   • Targets body compounds: Its primary function is to break down key monoamine neurotransmitters and hormones in the body, such as epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and serotonin.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The activity of monoamine oxidase must be carefully regulated for proper neurological function.
  • Some antidepressant medications work by inhibiting monoamine oxidase.
  • Researchers studied the role of monoamine oxidase in metabolizing dietary amines.

Advanced Usage

• "Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)": A class of drugs that block the action of this enzyme, leading to increased levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. This term is a compound and is listed here as it is a primary clinical application related to the enzyme.
  • Older generations of antidepressants included monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Variants and Related Words

• MAO: A common abbreviation for monoamine oxidase.
• Monoamine: A type of organic compound containing one amino group; these are the substrates (target molecules) for monoamine oxidase.
• Oxidase: A general term for any enzyme that catalyzes an oxidation-reduction reaction involving molecular oxygen.

Synonyms

• MAO (the standard abbreviation).
• Amine oxidase (a less specific, broader term for enzymes that oxidize amines).

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B): The two main isoenzyme forms (slightly different versions of the enzyme) with different substrate preferences and locations in the body.
• MAO activity: A phrase referring to the functional level or rate of action of the enzyme.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of many body compounds (e.g., epinephrine and norepinephrine and serotonin)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mao