A student nurse is studying the effect of the drug isocarboxazid (Marplan) on neurobiology. The student should recognize that the neurotransmitter serotonin is catabolized by which enzyme?
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A
Glycosyltransferase
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B
Peptidase
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C
Polymerase
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D
Monoamine oxidase
The statement that matches what is being asked is Monoamine oxidase.
A. Glycosyltransferase
This might be chosen when the idea in “Glycosyltransferase” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
B. Peptidase
This sounds reasonable when the idea in “Peptidase” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
C. Polymerase
This might be chosen when the idea in “Polymerase” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
D. Monoamine oxidase
This aligns with the concept that Serotonin that is not returned to be stored in the axon terminal vesicles is catabolized by the enzyme monoamine oxidase. A monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as Marplan, inhibits this catabolism, providing more available serotonin at the neuron synapse. Integrity Linking neurotransmitter patterns to symptom clusters supports medication teaching and monitoring, including expected therapeutic effects and side-effect vigilance. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.
Conclusion
Accurate cueing is the difference-maker: the correct choice follows directly from the stem’s most relevant detail. The distractors either interpret beyond the data or address a different priority.