Amino acid NTs Flashcards
What is the name of the family of glutamate transporters?
Excitatory amino acid transporters
EAAT1-5
Which transporters concentrate glutamate into vesicles/
VGLUT
How is glutamate synthesised as part of the citric acid cycle?
Glutamine (glutaminase) → glutamate → (glutamate dehydrogenase) alpha ketoglutarate as part of citric-acid c
What is GAD?
Marker for GABAnergic neurons
Enzyme involved in GABA synth from glutamate (glutamaic acid decarboxylate)
What is VIAAT?
Vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter, VIAAT (also termed the vesicular GABA transporter VGAT), sole representative of the SLC32 family, transports GABA, or glycine, into synaptic vesicles
What chemicals can activate kainate receptors?
Glutamate, Kainate, Domoic Acid
What is the structure of the AMPA R?
Homomeric tetramer
What is the GABAc receptor?
Possibly a subtype of GABA-a receptor. Ionotropic, found in retina.
Rho receptors.
What is the difference between immature and mature GABA-A receptors?
In mature GABAa R cells, activation causes hyperpolarisation as Cl- ions enter through opened chloride channel. K and Cl transported out of cell by KCC2, while NKCC pump allows Na, K, Cl into cell.
In immature cells activation tends to cause Cl to leave cell and not hyperpolarise cell (due to less KCC2 transporter so intracellular Cl higher, electrochemical gradient not established like in mature cells)
What is the structure of GABA-B receptors?
7TM, 2 receptors form dimer by association of C tail
How do BZs affect GABA-A Rs?
BZs are positive allosteric modulators of GABAa Rs - resulting in less GABA needed for same response ie dose response curve shifted left
BZs treat acute anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, pre surgery meds, sedative - diazepam -> anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, attenuation of autonomic endocrine response
