Variations in activity and inhibition with pH: the protonated amine is the substrate for monoamine oxidase,but uncharged inhibitors bind better

Summary It has been accepted that, as required mechanistically, the neutral form of the amine is the substrate for monoamine oxidase, despite the amine pK _a of above 9.5. The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters for kynuramine oxidation by purified human MAO-A and for phenylethylamine oxidation by MAO-B in granulocytes at pH values from 5 to 10 was consistent with the protonated amine being used. Deprotonation of a group of pK _a = 7.1 in MAO-B and pK _a = 7.5 ± 0.1 (n = 4) in MAO-A was important for efficient catalysis. The K_i values for two oxazolidinone inhibitors of MAO-A gave opposite pH-dependence indicating that the uncharged form of each inhibitor bound better than the charged form. Decreased pH induced a blue shift in the spectral maximum of MAO-A indicative of a more hydrophobic environment around the flavin, and also influenced the redox properties of the flavin.