It would not be practical to attempt to deal with all the advances that have informed our understanding of the behavior and functions of this enzyme over the past 90 years. This account concentrates key advances that explain why the monoamine oxidases remain of pharmacological and biochemical interest and on some areas of continuing uncertainty. Some issues that remain to be understood or are in need of further clarification are highlighted.
Keywords: Aldehydes; Ammonia; Cyclopropylamines; Depression; Hydrazines; Hydrogen peroxide; Imidazolines; Inhibitors; Kinetics, suicide substrates; Monoamine oxidase reaction; Parkinson’s disease; Propargylamines.