View source for Monoamine neurotransmitter

[[Image:Norepinephrine structure with descriptor.svg|thumb|right|180px|[[Norepinephrine]] is a monoamine neurotransmitter]]
'''Monoamine neurotransmitters''' are [[neurotransmitter]]s and [[neuromodulator]]s that contain one [[amino]] group that is connected to an [[aromaticity | aromatic]] ring by a two-carbon chain (-CH<sub>2</sub>-CH<sub>2</sub>-). All monoamines are derived from aromatic [[amino acid]]s like [[phenylalanine]], [[tyrosine]], [[tryptophan]], and the [[thyroid hormone]]s by the action of [[aromatic amino acid decarboxylase]] [[enzyme]]s.

[[image:Monoamine receptor tree.svg|thumb|right|600px| A phylogenetic tree showing how a number of monoamine receptors are related to each other.]]
== Examples ==

* [[Histamine]]
* [[Thyronamine]]s, a new group of compounds derived from thyroid hormones
*[[Catecholamine]]s:
** [[Dopamine]] (DA)
** [[Norepinephrine]] (NE) (noradrenaline, NA)
** [[Epinephrine]] (Epi) (adrenaline)
*[[Tryptamine]]s:
** [[Serotonin]] (5-HT)
** [[Melatonin]]
*[[Trace amine]]s:
** [[Phenylethylamine|&beta;-Phenylethylamine]] (PEA, &beta;-PEA)
** [[Tyramine]] 
** [[Tryptamine]]
** [[Octopamine]]
** [[3-iodothyronamine]]


Specific transporter [[protein]]s called [[monoamine transporter]]s exist that transport monoamines in or out of a cell. These are the [[dopamine transporter]] (DAT), [[serotonin transporter]] (SERT), and the [[norepinephrine transporter]] (NET) in the outer [[cell membrane]] and the [[vesicular monoamine transporter]] ([[VMAT1]] and [[VMAT2]]) in the membrane of intracellular [[vesicle (biology) | vesicle]]s.

After release into the [[synaptic cleft]], monoamine neurotransmitter action is ended by reuptake into the presynaptic terminal.  There, they can be repackaged into synaptic vesicles or degraded by the [[enzyme]] [[monoamine oxidase]] (MAO), which is a target of [[monoamine oxidase inhibitors]], a class of [[antidepressants]].

==See also==
* [[Monoamine oxidase]]
* [[Monoamine transporter]]
* [[Neurotransmitter]]
* [[Monoamine Hypothesis]]

==External links==
* {{MeshName|Biogenic+monoamines}}

{{Neurotransmitter systems}}
{{Adrenergics}}
{{Dopaminergics}}
{{Serotonergics}}

[[Category:Neurotransmitters]]

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