MAOA and MAOB gene variants
Modulating neurotransmitter levels
Hi everyone,
Neurotransmitters impact every aspect of health and wellness - from mood to memory to muscle and nerve function.
MAOA and MAOB are two key genes that code for the monoamine oxidase enzymes that break down several neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin. By regulating how much dopamine and serotonin are available, the MAO enzymes affect mood, cognitive function, and overall brain health.
While it is tempting to think that inhibiting MAO will give you a big dopamine rush, the reality is that you want everything in balance. Just as too little of a neurotransmitter is a problem, too much can also be a problem.
When psychologists started looking at genes a few decades ago to see if genes control behavior and mood, they found that the MAOA genetic variants were more common in men with aggression and criminal behavior. There was a lot of speculation that MAOA could predict who would be a criminal or a warrior.
However, subsequent research over the decades showed that you can't tell who will become a criminal based on their genes. For MAOA, further research pointed to an interaction between childhood maltreatment and MAOA variants in males as a statistical risk factor for aggressive behavior. Not quite as catchy as calling it the "warrior gene"...
MAOB is also important in the pathology of Parkinson's disease, so be sure to read the article if you are interested in preventing Parkinson's.
Stay curious,
~ Debbie Moon
MAO-A and MAO-B: Neurotransmitter levels, genetics, and warrior gene studies
Key takeaways:
~ Monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes break down neurotransmitters, regulating the levels of dopamine, serotonin, and more.
~ Higher or lower MAO enzyme levels can affect mood by altering neurotransmitter levels.
~ Genetic variants in the MAOA and MAOB genes can increase the risk of mood disorders or aggression, under some circumstances.
~ There are natural supplements that affect MAO-A and MAO-B levels.
What is the MAO enzyme?
MAO, or monoamine oxidase, is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters. There are two slightly different forms of MAO, MAO-A and MAO-B.
Specifically, monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes break down monoamine neurotransmitters – including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.[ref][ref]
The two enzymes differ a bit in their affinity for different monoamines.
MAO-A preferentially breaks down norepinephrine, serotonin, epinephrine (adrenaline), melatonin, dopamine, kynuramine, tyramine, and tryptamine.
MAO-B breaks down dopamine, 3-iodothyronamine, β– Phenylethylamine, kynuramine, and tyramine.
In addition to their roles in neurotransmitter metabolism, MAOs are also involved in the metabolism of certain drugs and biogenic amines. (More on this below in the Parkinson’s section.)
The monoamine oxidases are produced by cells in the brain, as well as throughout the body.
There are a couple of differences in the tissue distribution of the MAOs. MAO-A is most abundant in the heart muscle, platelets, gastrointestinal tract, and specific neurons in the brain.
In the brain, MAO-B is primarily found on the mitochondrial membranes in the astrocytes and specific types of neurons. MAO-B is also found in the heart, intestines, kidneys, and blood vessels.[ref][ref][ref]
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