In Class Notes (2/19/25)

Question 1

Once vesicles are released, they dock with snare proteins that are embedded in the neuron’s membrane. Synaptic vesicles fuse to cell membranes to release neurotransmitters:

Answer 1

Exocytosis

Question 2

Clusters of protein molecules. The membrane of the vesicles will briefly merge with the presynaptic membrane, and the neurotransmitters will be released into the synapse:

Answer 2

Snare Proteins

Question 3

Vesicles can be reused with a new batch of neurotransmitters:

Answer 3

Endocytosis

Question 4

Vesicle fuses with the membrane, releases neurotransmitters, and immediately pinches off to reform the vesicles:

Answer 4

Kiss and Run

Question 5

Vesicle entirely fuses with the membrane for a second, then a part will pinch off to reform the vesicle:

Answer 5

Merge and Recycle

Question 6

Large portions of the membrane pinch off and are stored - most often occurs with a high number of action potentials and/or depolarization from excessive extracellular potassium:

Answer 6

Bulk Endocytosis

Question 7

Ionotropic and Metabotropic:

Answer 7

Postsynaptic Receptors

Question 8

Opens an ion channel after the neurotransmitter binds to the receptor. Ions go directly through the channel, NTs open it. The receptors can be more ion-general (cation channel) or ion-specific:

Answer 8

Ionotropic Receptors

Question 9

Receptor receives a NT and releases a G protein that’s attached, which then breaks apart into subunits. The subunit binds to an ion channel from the inside and opens a hole in the channel:

Answer 9

Metabotropic Receptors

Question 10

Same goal as another process but the subunits activate an enzyme. The enzyme releases a second messenger which then opens the ion channel:

Answer 10

Metabotropic Receptors (Alternative Process)