Transcription factor binding to the core promoter of the human monamine oxidase B gene in the cerebral cortex and in blood cells

Many studies show that monoamine oxidase B in blood cells is a biological m arker for personality characteristics such as sensation seeking. The mechan ism underlying this association is so far not explored. In the present stud y we have performed electrophoretic mobility-shift assays to investigate th e pattern of protein binding to a 150 bp fragment of the proximal 5'-flanki ng region of the human monoamine oxidase B gene. We compared the pattern us ing nuclear extracts from human brain and lymphocytes. Interestingly, a cor relation was observed between monoamine oxidase B enzyme activity in blood cells (platelets) and the binding pattern of two uncharacterized transcript ion factors. These data are well in line with the long-standing notion that interindividual differences in platelet monoamine oxidase may represent di fferences in expression of the enzyme rather than genotypic variation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.