8 Synapses & NT's

Question 1

Cell adhesion molecules span the synapse, they are critical to _______ formation and plasticity.

Postsynaptic receptors are coupled to “___________” proteins which then link to cytoskeletal proteins which structurally and functionally change synapses.

Answer 1

Synapse

Scaffolding

Question 2

Local synthesis of a neurotransmitter takes place in ________ by enzymes located either in the _________ or inside the synaptic vesicle.

Answer 2

axon terminals

cytoplasm

Question 3

If the neurotransmitter is synthesized in the cytoplasm, it needs to be translocated into a synaptic ________ by a _______ protein in the _____ membrane.

Answer 3

vesicle
transporter
vesicular

Question 4

Neuropeptides are transcribed and translated in the _____.

Answer 4

soma

Question 5

Neuropeptides are post-translationally modified in the ______.

Answer 5

Golgi (or within vesicle during axonal transport)

Question 6

Exceptions: Some neurotransmitters are synthesized by enzymes that are already inside the ________.

Answer 6

synaptic vesicle

Question 7

_____ influx allows transmitter release by pre-docked vesicles.

This influx also causes actin filaments to ________, fuse, and release.

Answer 7

Ca++

de-polymerize, disassociate from vesicles

Question 8

When it comes to pre-synaptic activation, most vesicles tethered by ______ and not yet docked.

Answer 8

actin

Question 9

A metabotropic (post-synaptic) receptor can _____ or _____ a channel, along with activate a _________, such as adenylyl cyclase.

This is a type of _______ activation.

Answer 9

open or close
secondary messenger

indirect

Question 10

An ________ receptor (post-synaptic) can open a channel that allows ions to freely move through.

This is a type of _______ activation.

Answer 10

ionotropic

direct

Question 11

Glutamate, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and histamine are three major types of _________ neurotransmitters.
What do they each do?

Answer 11

amino acid

Glutamate-major excitatory NT in CNS
GABA- major inhibitory NT in CNS
Histamine-some neurons in hypothalamus, involved in wakefulness

Question 12

Monoamines can refer to __________ and ________, which are classes of biogenic amines.

Answer 12

catecholamines (brainstem neurons)
-dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine

indolamines
-serotonin (5-HT), from brainstem neurons

Question 13

Substance P deals with ______ nerves and spinal cord.

Answer 13

peripheral (pain-related, sensory-related)

Question 14

_________ can be thought of “the brain’s own marijuana.”

Answer 14

Endocannabinoids

Question 15

These messengers are released from post-synaptic neurons and act on presynaptic neurons to regulate NT release.

Answer 15

retrograde messengers

• synthesized and released by postsynaptic neuron (non-vesicular) and bind specific receptors or other targets (enzymes) in presynaptic neuron.
• these usually suppress release

Question 16

Choline is typically obtained via ____ or ______.

Choline deficiency can be a risk if ______.

Answer 16

diet or recycled (CN’s III and X use acetylcholine)

poor nutrition (b/c critical for brain development)

Question 17

_______ is considered to be a ubiquitous NT because it is found everywhere, especially in projection neurons. Its roles include neuronal plasticity and learning/memory.

Answer 17

L-glutamate

-an excitatory NT in CNS