A new class of powerful inhibitors of monamine oxidase A

Monoamine oxidase-A knockdown in human neuroblastoma cells reveals protection against mitochondrial toxins

The study examined how the mitochondrial enzyme monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), which produces hydrogen peroxide as a catalytic by-product, influences death and survival mechanisms. Targeted microRNA (miRNA) was used to stably knock down MAO-A mRNA, protein, and catalytic activity by 60-70% in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The effects of MAO-A knockdown (KD) on ATP, oxidative stress, electron transport chain, and survival following exposure to mitochondrial toxins were assessed. In control cells, complex I inhibition resulted in caspase-mediated cell death linked with ROS production and reduced ATP, followed by up-regulation of MAO-A mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity levels. Inhibition of complex III and IV resulted in a similar increase in MAO-A expression, while up-regulation of MAO-A was lower following complex II inhibition. MAO-A KD decreased basal reactive oxygen species levels by 50% and increased levels of ATP and reduced glutathione and Bcl-2. MAO-A KD specifically increased the activity of complex I but had no effect on complex II-IV activities. Furthermore, MAO-A KD protected against inhibitors of complex I, III, and IV. In summary, endogenous MAO-A levels influence mitochondrial function, notably complex I activity, and MAO-A may be a target for protection against neurodegenerative conditions that involve oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction as underlying pathogenic factors.

Differences in substrate specificities of monoamine oxidase A from human liver and placenta

The substrate specificities of monoamine oxidase (MAO) A isolated from human placenta and of human liver expressed in yeast have been compared in homogeneous preparations with respect to Vmax and Km values for natural and synthetic substrates and Ki values for competitive inhibitors. MAO A from these two sources is known to differ in at least 5 amino acid residues. While the Km and Ki values were found to be nearly identical in the enzymes from these two sources, the Vmax differed significantly on bulky synthetic substrates.