What is monoamine oxidase?

Do you ever get the feeling that your body just hates you? Like, why does it have to be so complicated? Well, one thing that might be causing some trouble is monoamine oxidase. No worries if you’ve never heard of it before – we’re about to break down what exactly this funky little enzyme is and talk about its role in our bodies.

Introduction: So What Exactly Does It Do?

Okay, so let’s start with the basics. Monoamine oxidase (or MAO for short) is an enzyme found in our brains and throughout our bodies. Its main job is to take care of all those pesky neurotransmitters floating around – dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc. You know, just your average everyday chemicals responsible for things like mood regulation and general happiness.

But How Does It Work?

Now I’m sure you’re wondering how an enzyme can do all that work on its own. Well my friend, buckle up because we’re getting into some nerdy biochemistry stuff here. Essentially MAO breaks down these neurotransmitters by adding oxygen atoms to them through a process called oxidation (cue dramatic sound effect). Once they’ve been oxidized enough times they become inactive and aren’t able to do their jobs anymore…

There Are Two Types Of These Enzymes???

Here’s where things start getting interesting though- there are actually two different types of MAO enzymes! Can you believe it?? They’re creatively named MAO-A & MAO-B, which stand for monoamine oxidase A & B respectively.

Let’s Break Them Down

So what sets these two apart? Basically they each have different specificities when it comes to breaking down certain neurotransmitters:

MAOs
Type MAO-A
Breakdown of neurotransmitters Serotonin, Norepinephrine

Show Me The Effects On My Body!

This is where things start getting really interesting. Remember those neurotransmitters we were talking about earlier? Well it turns out that different types of MAO play a role in regulating them which can affect our behavior!

What Happens When You Have Low Levels Of MAOs

Low levels of both MAO enzymes have been linked to higher risk-taking behaviors and overall sensation-seeking tendencies (AKA living life like there’s no tomorrow). BUT… these risks also come with benefits like being more curious and exploratory than your average bear.

Lemme Guess! High Levels?

On the other hand, too much MAO activity has been associated with depression and anxiety because they break down neurotransmitters responsible for good moods

Could This Explains Why People Take Antidepressant

So could this explain why people take antidepressants?? Ding ding ding! Correctamundo my friend. Antidepressants work by preventing reuptake of serotonin back into neurons before its broken down by either monoamine oxidase A or B’

But Am I At Risk For Too Much Or Too Little…or Both???

Great question! And the answer is yes you certainly are susceptible to having abnormal levels of MAOs- whether it’s high or low depends on many factors.

Environmental

Some studies suggest diet high in caffeine could lead to lower activity of monoamine oxidase. It’s important to remember each person leads their unique lifestyle so certain foods may interfere differently between individuals.

Genetic Factors

There are some genetic mutations passed down through family lines that regulate how well our enzyme works around those neurotransmitters. Some forms have been linked to issues such as aggression disorders within males but it’s not clear the extent of involvement involving MAOs.

In Conclusion

So there you have it! Monoamine oxidase in a nutshell…well sort of! It’s pretty amazing all that this little guy (or guys, I should say) does to keep our brain and body functioning smoothly. So next time you’re feeling particularly happy, or sad, or just generally neurotic…maybe take a moment to appreciate the work of MAO in your life.

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