Ionotropic Receptors & Neuromuscular Junction Flashcards
In the Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), where is the binding site for ligand?
Alpha subunit
How many molecules of ACh need to bind to nAChR to open channel?
2 molecules
Current through a channel depends on what two factors?
driving force and conductance
I = g(Vm-Veq)
Current - Voltage relationship (I-V curve) tells you these three properties:
- Equilibrium (Reversal) potential / ion selectivity
- Channel conductance
- Voltage-dependence
What two ligand-gated cation channels are similar to nicotinic receptor?
AMPA and Kainate channels
What type of channel is NMDA receptor?
Ligand-gated and voltage-gated
What type of receptor is GABA
Ligand-gated choride channel
Chloride channels are usually (inhibitory/excitatory)
inhibitory
Synaptic effects of ionotropic channels are (excitatory/inhibitory)
They can be either
What determines whether opening the channel is excitatory or inhibitory?
The reverse (equilibrium) potential
If the reversal potential is (greater/lesser) than the action potential threshold, it is excitatory
greater
Ionotropic receptors
Channels that form ion channels
Describe how ligand-gated ion channels work
Two neurotransmitters (ligands) bind to channel, channel opens, lets ions through (ligand-gated ion channel)
Two main classes of neurotransmitter receptors
- Ionotropic receptors
2. Metabotropic receptors
How can you broadly define metabotropic receptors?
Includes any receptor that does not directly form an ionic channel membrane, can have intracellular/second messenger signaling and downstream effects
What is the largest class of metabotropic receptors?
G-protein receptors
3 important properties of a single subunit of the nicotinic acetycholine receptor
- 4 transmembrane domains
- Large extracellular and intracellular tails, regulate activity of channel
- N and C terminal tails are outside the cell
nAChR can have different subunit variations in different parts of the brain and nervous system. These composition variance can have strong effects, a major one being what?
Nicotine binding strength
What lines the pore of the nicotinic receptor structure?
Transmembrane domain number 2 (TM2)
Why do variations in subunits affect binding strength?
Binding unit infringes on parts of subunits, not completely on alpha
What is the function of an ionotropic receptor?
To change the membrane potential of a cell, which will have consequences for signaling of cell
Does the ionotropic receptor have an electric property?
Yes, have to understand current that flow through channels and how they affect membrane potentials
Relationship between membrane potential and current, specifically for membrane potential:
V = IR
Relationship between membrane potential and current, specifically for ionic currents:
I = g(Vm-Veq)
g = conductance = 1/R
What is the driving force?
The difference between membrane potential and equilibrium potential; the greater the difference, the greater the driving force
Another name for equilibrium potential
reverse potential
Patch clamp measurement of a single ACh receptor shows what type of current?
Show step like current as goes from open to closed state- when closed, no conductance/current
What does size of current depend on?
STRICTLY the conductance and driving force, not ACh
What determines the open state of channel?
ACh determines its open state, but has NO EFFECT on size of current.
A whole cell recording of synaptic current
A more pointed current. less step like because not all open or closed at same time, represent current flow into and out of cell
In the I-V curve, what is the x and y axis?
x axis: V (mV) voltage
y axis: I (pA) current
If reversal/equilibrium is at 0, then the channel is permeable to multiple ions (no single ion has nernst potential of 0). What is this type of channel called?
non-selective cation channels
Where on graph can you determine the reversal/equilibrium potential?
When there is zero current (point intersecting with x-axis)
In the I-V curve for nicotinic receptor channel, is the conductance voltage independent or dependent?
Voltage independent. Get straight line, instantaneous slope will be same, so conductance is same no matter what voltage is.
What affect conductance in a nicotinic receptor channel?
Only the present of ACh. Voltage does not affect conductance, because you get a straight line when look at I-V curve.
What does voltage determine in a nicotinic receptor channel?
Voltage determines size of current because determines driving force.
3 subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors (excitatory)
AMPA, kainate, NMDA (these three are agonists for the neurotransmitter glutamate)