monoamine oxidase (MAO) (Parkinson’s disease)

Gene one of several genes believed to have a causative role in Parkinson’s disease. The MAO gene directs mitochondrial production of monoamine oxidase (MAO), an enzyme that metabolizes monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Researchers have found mutations of the MAO gene in some people with Parkinson’s disease, often in conjunction with mutations of the alpha-synuclein gene and the parkin gene that frequently appear in early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Because MAO is just one of numerous substances involved in neurotransmitter metabolism, it is less likely to be a determinant cause of Parkinson’s than a contributing factor. Some research has linked mutations in the MAO gene to