Background of the antigen
The Flavin containing monooxygenase family consists of five gene products, FMO1-5, that are major enzymatic oxidants involved in the metabolism of various therapeutics. Located in the liver, FMO3 is a hepatic microsomal enzyme that oxygenates soft nucleophiles such as secondary and tertiary amines. Through its N-oxygenase capabilities, FMO3 acts on a variety of xenobiotics to catalyze oxidative digestion. Defects in the FMO3 gene are the primary cause of trimethylaminuria (TMAuria), an inborn error of metabolism associated with a fishy body odor emitting from sweat, urine and breath. Genetic mutations in FMO3 lead to the N-oxidation of amino-trimethylamine derived from food products, thus producing the malodor associated with TMAuria.
