MAO-A gene has been associated with stress, violence and aggression in some articles. I need to know the story of that gene and how it works.
Dear Nahi,
MAO-A is a mono amine oxidase which is capable causing oxidative deamination of monoamines. A large number of neurotransmitters are monoamines e.g. Serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, etc. These neurotransmitters are carried into the cells through expression of their respective transporters on the cell membrane. However, if these neurotransmitters are not quickly taken into the cells, they are broken down and inactivated by MAO-A. A large number of these neurotransmitters have role in modulating behaviour e.g. Serotonin regulates mood, anxiety and depression and is known as happy hormone; adrenaline is produced during a fight flight reaction to a sudden threat. A lot of literature point to the involvement of these neurotransmitters in stress response and mood related disorders. So, an overtly active MAO-A synthesis can deplete these neurotransmitters and thereby cause loss of modulation on behavioural physiology, say serotonin depletion could cause depression; while and under-activity of MAO-A could lead excess accumulation of adrenaline, leading to aggression behaviour.
Hope that helps :)
Dear Sushri
Thank you for you kind reply. I would be most grateful if could provide me with any published article about MAO-A gene in relation with violence.
Kind regards
These are few articles which relates MAOA with violence. Also these articles support Sushri's comments on MAOA.
1. MAOA and the "cycle of violence:" childhood abuse and neglect, MAOA genotype, and risk for violent and antisocial behavior. (PMID: 16814261) Widom C.S. … Brzustowicz L.M.(Biol. Psychiatry 2006)
2. MAOA alters the effects of heavy drinking and childhood physical abuse on risk for severe impulsive acts of violence among alcoholic violent offenders. (PMID: 20201935) Tikkanen R. … Virkkunen M.(Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 2010)
3. Neural mechanisms of anger regulation as a function of genetic risk for violence. (PMID: 19485616) Alia-Klein N. … Volkow N.D.(Emotion 2009)
4. Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. (PMID: 12161658) Caspi A. … Poulton R.(Science 2002)
Thank you Dr Pradhan for quick response. I 'll try to get them hoping to find them free downloaded.
Best Wishes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2844879/
This article gives very good insight to the molecular mechanism of action of MAOa and MAOb and their association with aggression behaviour.
You might also find these articles useful:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430409/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2844866/
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