Rines Brain Molecule Implicated In Regulating Human Emotion And Mood
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - 20:20
in Health & Medicine
A RIKEN research team says that an enzyme called Rines regulates Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) , a major brain protein controlling emotion and mood, making it a potential drug target for treating depression. Monoamine oxidase A is an enzyme that breaks down serotonin, norephinephrine and dopamine, neurotransmitters well-known for their influence on emotion and mood. Nicknamed the "warrior gene", a variant of the MAOA gene has been associated with increased risk of violent and anti-social behavior. While evidence points to a link between MAO-A levels and various emotional patterns, however, the mechanism controlling MAO-A levels in the brain has remained unknown. read more