Modulation by phospholipids of the activity of monoamine oxidase purified from pig liver

Abstract

Monoamine oxidase was purified from pig liver mitochondria to homogeneity. The enzyme sample contained a large amount of phospholipids. Depletion of lipids from the enzyme sample resulted in a decrease in its activity, while activity was restored by the binding of the lipid-depleted enzyme to phosphatidylcholine, phos-phatidylethanolamine, or mitochondrial lipids. Upon binding the lipid-depleted enzyme to the mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (molar ratio, 1¦1), the enzymatic activity toward serotonin was elevated over that of the purified enzyme, but not toward benzylamine, suggesting a change in substrate specificity. Upon lipid depletion, inhibition by deprenyl became weaker, while that by clorgyline became stronger. This alteration was reversed by the binding to lipids. By the binding of the lipid-depleted enzyme to some lipids such as the mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (molar ratio, 1¦1), inhibition by clorgyline became even weaker than for the original enzyme sample.