Ethanol inhibits the activity of the B form of monoamine oxidase in human platelet and brain tissue

Abstract
Ethanol selectively inhibits the activity of the B-form of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in membranes obtained from human platelet and brain. When endogenous concentrations of phenylethylamine are used as substrate, significant inhibition is induced by concentrations of ethanol that are attainable after ethanol ingestion (50 mM). The mechanism of ethanol's inhibition of MAO activity appears to involve perturbation of membrane lipids surrounding the enzyme.