Polymorphisms of monoamine oxidase gene and its correlation with certain psychiatric disorders

Monoamine oxidase(MAO) is a kind of mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme that degrades biogenic amines,such as catecholamine and serotonin.It has a variety of biological functions,and can be found in various human tissues,including nervous system.Two MAO enzymes,MAO-A and MAO-B have been identified.MAO gene has polymorphisms,and some of which have a close relationship with certain psychic diseases,such as major depression,alcoholism,antisocial personality disorder and so on.MAO gene can acts as a new forensic individual identification and parentage testing genetic marker or legal psychiatry testing referential genetic marker.