Glutamate

Question 1

Glutamate

Answer 1

the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS

Question 2

Glutamine

Answer 2

Amino acid precursor of glutamate

Question 3

Phosphate-activated glutaminase

Answer 3

Enzyme that converts glutamine to glutamate

Question 4

Vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT)

Answer 4

Vesicular membrane transporter that mediates glutamate accumulation in presynaptic vesicles (counter-transported with H+)

Question 5

AMPA receptor

Answer 5

A ligand-gated ionotropic glutamate receptor subtype selective to the synthetic molecule AMPA

Question 6

NMDA receptor

Answer 6

A ligand- and voltage-gated ionotropic glutamate receptor subtype selective to the synthetic molecule NMDA

Question 7

Kainate receptor

Answer 7

A ligand-gated ionotropic glutamate receptor subtype selective to the synthetic molecule kainite

Question 8

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 8

A persistent increase in synaptic strength following high-frequency stimulation of a chemical synapse. Studies of LTP are often carried out in slices of the hippocampus, an important organ for learning and memory.

Question 9

Excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT)

Answer 9

A membrane transporter that mediates glutamate accumulation in the presynaptic bouton from the presynaptic cleft

Question 10

Excitotoxicity

Answer 10

The pathological process by which neurons are damaged and killed by the overactivations of the NMDA and AMPA receptors

Question 11

What is glutamate?

Answer 11

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS).

Question 12

Where does glutamate get synthesis

Answer 12

Synthesised in the nerve terminals
Transported into vesicles by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT)
->Counter transport with H+ to drive glutamate entry into vesicles

Question 13

Ionotropic receptors for glutamate

Answer 13

• AMPA receptors
• NMDA receptors
• Kainate receptors

Question 14

AMPA

Answer 14

Influx of sodium

Efflux of potassium

Question 15

NMDA

Answer 15

Influx of Sodium and calcium

Efflux of Potassium

Question 16

Kainate

Answer 16

Influx of sodium

Efflux of potassium

Question 17

AMPA receptor subunits

Answer 17

• GluA1
• GluA2
• GluA3
• GluA4

Question 18

NMDA receptor subunits

Answer 18

• GluN1 (or NR1)
• GluN2 (or NR2)
• GluN3 (or NR3)

Question 19

Kainate receptors

Answer 19

• GluK1 (GluR5)
• GluK2 (GluR6)
• GluK3 (GluR7)
• GluK4 (KA1)
• GluK5 (KA2)

Question 20

Group 1 of GPCR

Answer 20

mGlu1
mGlu5

Gq coupled
PIP2 ->  DAG and IP3
IP3R activation on ER
↑Ca2+
Synaptic plasticity

Question 21

Group 2

Answer 21

mGlu2
mGlu3
Gi/o coupled
Θ adenylyl cyclase
↓cAMP formation
Inhibit NT release

Question 22

Group 3

Answer 22

mGlu4
mGlu6
mGlu7
mGlu8
Gi/o coupled
Θ adenylyl cyclase
↓cAMP formation
Inhibit NT release

Question 23

Excitotoxicity

Answer 23

The pathological process by which excessive excitatory stimulation can lead to neuronal damage and death.
Linked to
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Stroke

Question 24

Long- term Potentiation (LTP)

Answer 24

Long-term potentiation (LTP) refers to the persistent strengthening of a synapse based upon repeated patterns of activity.