Monoamine

monoamines : neurotransmitters and neuromodulators that contain one amino group that is connected to an aromatic ring by a two-carbon chain (-CH2-CH2-). All monoamines are derived from the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, and tryptophan.

Examples:


 * Catecholamines:
 * Dopamine (DA)
 * Norepinephrine (NE) (noradrenaline, NA)
 * Epinephrine (Epi) (adrenaline)


 * Serotonin (5-HT)
 * Histamine
 * Thyronamines, a new group of compounds derived from thyroid hormones


 * Trace amines:
 * &beta;-Phenylethylamine (PEA, &beta;-PEA)
 * Tyramine
 * Tryptamine

Specific transporter proteins called monoamine transporters 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 transporters 1 and 2 (VMAT-1 and VMAT-2) in the membrane of intracellular vesicles.