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50 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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MAOA
monoamine oxidase A
Chromosome X · Xp11.3
NCBI Gene: 4128Ensembl: ENSG00000189221.12HGNC: HGNC:6833UniProt: P21397
652PubMed Papers
21Diseases
16Drugs
18Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Highly ConstrainedHub Gene
RESEARCH IMPACT
Highly Studied
CLINICAL
FDA Approved TargetOMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingprimary methylamine oxidase activitymitochondrionmonoamine oxidase activityBrunner syndromeMonoamine oxidase A deficiencymajor depressive disorderdepressive disorder
✦AI Summary

MAOA (Monoamine Oxidase A) is a mitochondrial flavoenzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of primary amines, particularly neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and other biogenic amines 1. The enzyme preferentially metabolizes serotonin and converts these substrates to corresponding aldehydes with concomitant hydrogen peroxide production 1. MAOA functions critically in regulating monoamine levels in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, with implications for behavior and metabolism. Genetically, complete MAOA deficiency causes Brunner syndrome, characterized by borderline mental retardation and impulsive aggression, arson, and abnormal sexual behavior, associated with disturbed monoamine metabolism 2. Low-activity MAOA variants, particularly the rare 2-repeat allele, confer increased risk for violent behaviors including shooting and stabbing, especially in males with childhood maltreatment history—representing the best-documented gene×environment interaction in aggression pathophysiology 34. Beyond neuropsychiatric manifestations, decreased MAOA expression correlates with advanced pancreatic and prostate cancer stages, where reduced serotonin degradation promotes tumor growth through HTR2B signaling and glycolytic reprogramming 56. MAOA inhibitors show therapeutic potential in Parkinson's disease and cancer immunotherapy, exerting neuroprotective effects through oxidative stress reduction and immune modulation 16.

Sources cited
1
MAOA is a mitochondrial flavoenzyme with critical role in neurotransmitter metabolism, structure, and pharmacological targeting
PMID: 29464559
2
Complete MAOA deficiency due to point mutation causes Brunnel syndrome with impulsive aggression and behavioral abnormalities
PMID: 8211186
3
Low-activity MAOA variants associated with increased aggression and antisocial behavior, particularly with childhood maltreatment; represents best-documented gene×environment interaction
PMID: 32574581
4
MAOA 2-repeat allele confers increased risk for shooting and stabbing behaviors in males
PMID: 24326626
5
Decreased MAOA expression in pancreatic cancer correlates with advanced stage and poor survival; reduced serotonin degradation promotes tumor growth
PMID: 28315323
6
MAOA inhibition in stromal cells modulates cancer-associated fibroblasts and enhances immunotherapy efficacy in prostate cancer
PMID: 40121032
Disease Associationsⓘ21
Brunner syndromeOpen Targets
0.78Strong
Monoamine oxidase A deficiencyOpen Targets
0.73Strong
major depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.54Moderate
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.46Moderate
anti-social behaviorOpen Targets
0.46Moderate
mental or behavioural disorderOpen Targets
0.37Weak
melancholiaOpen Targets
0.37Weak
autismOpen Targets
0.35Weak
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.34Weak
Intellectual disabilityOpen Targets
0.31Weak
posterior cortical atrophyOpen Targets
0.11Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.11Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.11Weak
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
pachyonychia congenitaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
neuropathic painOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
post-traumatic stress disorderOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Brunner syndromeUniProt
Pathogenic Variants18
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.133C>T (p.Arg45Trp)Pathogenic
Brunner syndrome|not provided
★★☆☆2025→ Residue 45
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.1183A>T (p.Lys395Ter)Pathogenic
Inborn genetic diseases
★☆☆☆2025→ Residue 395
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.1420C>T (p.Gln474Ter)Likely pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2025→ Residue 474
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.83del (p.Ala28fs)Likely pathogenic
Inborn genetic diseases
★☆☆☆2025→ Residue 28
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.11_12del (p.Gln4fs)Likely pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2024→ Residue 4
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.73+1G>CLikely pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2024
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.290_303del (p.Leu97fs)Pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2023→ Residue 97
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.166del (p.Arg56fs)Likely pathogenic
not provided
★☆☆☆2023→ Residue 56
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.1214del (p.Gly405fs)Pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2020→ Residue 405
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.796-1G>TLikely pathogenic
Intellectual disability
★☆☆☆2020
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.233dup (p.Leu78fs)Likely pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2019→ Residue 78
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.1263-2A>GPathogenic
not provided
★☆☆☆2017
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.730G>A (p.Val244Ile)Likely pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2017→ Residue 244
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.749_750insT (p.Ser251fs)Pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
★☆☆☆2014→ Residue 251
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.1180G>C (p.Glu394Gln)Likely pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
☆☆☆☆2022→ Residue 394
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.797G>T (p.Cys266Phe)Pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
☆☆☆☆2014→ Residue 266
NM_000240.3(MAOA):c.-1241ACCGGCACCGGCACCAGTACCCGCACCAGT[3_5]Pathogenic
Autism, severe|Antisocial behavior, susceptibility to
☆☆☆☆2011
NM_000240.4(MAOA):c.886C>T (p.Gln296Ter)Pathogenic
Brunner syndrome
☆☆☆☆1993→ Residue 296
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets16
INDANTADOLPhase II
Glutamate [NMDA] receptor antagonist
neuropathic pain
IPRONIAZIDApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
major depressive disorder
ISOCARBOXAZIDApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
major depressive disorder
MEBANAZINEUNKNOWN
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
MINAPRINEApproved
Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonist
depressive disorder
MINAPRINE HYDROCHLORIDEUNKNOWN
Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonist
MOCLOBEMIDEApproved
Monoamine oxidase A inhibitor
depressive disorder
NIALAMIDEApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
major depressive disorder
PARGYLINEApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
hypertension
PHENELZINEApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
depressive disorder
PHENELZINE SULFATEApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
PHENOXYPROPAZINEUNKNOWN
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
PROXIBARBALUNKNOWN
Diamine oxidase activator
TOLOXATONEApproved
Monoamine oxidase A inhibitor
major depressive disorder
TRANYLCYPROMINEApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
major depressive disorder
TRANYLCYPROMINE SULFATEApproved
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
Related Genes
IL13Protein interaction99%ADH4Protein interaction98%ADH5Protein interaction98%ADH7Protein interaction98%AOC2Protein interaction98%ALDH7A1Protein interaction98%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Liver
99%
Lung
80%
Ovary
58%
Brain
19%
Bone Marrow
1%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
MAOAIL13ADH4ADH5ADH7AOC2ALDH7A1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB2Z5Y · 2.17 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.28Highly Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.14 [0.08–0.28]
RankingsWhere MAOA stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #338of 20,598
    Most Researched652 · top 5%
  • #138of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets11 · top quartile
  • #2,260of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants18
  • #1,006of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.28 · top 10%
Genes detectedMAOA
Sources retrieved50 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
50▼
1
The 2-repeat allele of the MAOA gene confers an increased risk for shooting and stabbing behaviors.
PMID: 24326626
Psychiatr Q · 2014
1.00
2
Length-independent telomere damage drives post-mitotic cardiomyocyte senescence.
PMID: 30737259
EMBO J · 2019
0.90
3
MAOA, maltreatment, and gene-environment interaction predicting children's mental health: new evidence and a meta-analysis.
PMID: 16801953
Mol Psychiatry · 2006
0.86
4
The role of MAOA gene expression in human aggressive behaviors.
PMID: 41518161
Wiad Lek · 2025
0.84
5
The role of monoamine oxidase A in the neurobiology of aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior: A tale of mice and men.
PMID: 32574581
Prog Neurobiol · 2020
0.80