General

Question 1

What are the positive amino acids?

Answer 1

Lysine (K), histidine (H), arginine (R)

Question 2

What are the negative amino acids?

Answer 2

Aspartate (D) and Glutamate (E)

Question 3

What can you deduce from voltage clamp recordings?

Answer 3

Observe changes in current flow at various voltages, tells you about conductance of channels, and behavior of those channels (ie if they are activated at more depolarized or hyperpolarized levels)

Question 4

What can you deduce from current clamp recordings?

Answer 4

Observe changes in membrane voltage at current steps and tells you how different neurons fire in response to varying input

Question 5

What information do single channel recordings provide?

Answer 5

Meausrement of current of a single channel, can deduce changes in efficacy, affinity, conductance, based on measuring channel open/closure time, amplitude, and frequency of firing

Question 6

What can be used to block K+ channels?

Answer 6

XE991- KNCQ blocker
TEA- K blocker

Question 7

What does paired pulse ratio tell you?

Answer 7

PPR is ratio of first to second current pulse: tells you whether a modulator (eg mutant or drug) is acting pre-synaptically or post-synapically since its very hard to measure pre-synaptically. If the ratio changes then the pre-synapse is being targetted (since change is dependent on pre-synaptic changes in calcium affecting neurotransmitter release from pre-synapse)