Lecture 4 Flashcards
Chapter 2c
The Action Potential in Five Proteins are:
You know the 2 proteins that set up the resting membrane potential:
Sodium-Potassium transporter (requires ATP; concentrates sodium and potassium outside and inside the cell, respectively)
Leak potassium channels (always open; sets up the resting membrane potential)
The action potential involves 3 other proteins: voltage-gated ion channels
Voltage-gated sodium channel (to initiate and propagate the action potential)
Voltage-gated potassium channel (to restore the resting membrane potential)
Voltage-gated calcium channel (located at the end of the axon, the axon terminal, and cause the release of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles)
We know the DNA letters (the exact string of nucleic acids) do what
encode these proteins in numerous species
A portion of the DNA that encodes the voltage-gated potassium channel: what letters encode it
AGA
AGA encodes what
These 3 letters encode the amino acid arginine
In genetics, apromoteris what
a region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particulargene. They indicate what kind of cells should read the gene and when.
Promotersare typically located just before the gene.
what is A synapse
is a junction between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and a portion of the cell membrane of the receiving neuron
Communication generally proceeds in one direction only, what is it (synaptic communication)
FROM the axon terminal TO the membrane of the other cell.
A synapse is a junction between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and a portion of the cell membrane of the receiving neuron.
Communication generally proceeds in one direction only: FROM the axon terminal TO the membrane of the other cell.
This communication across the synapse is achieved how
by the release of a chemical from an axon terminal
A synapse is a junction between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and a portion of the cell membrane of the receiving neuron.
Communication generally proceeds in one direction only: FROM the axon terminal TO the membrane of the other cell.
This communication across the synapse is achieved by the release of a chemical from an axon terminal. This chemical is called a what
neurotransmitter
what kind of effect does a neurotransmitter have
can have a simple excitatory or inhibitory effect or a complex modulatory effect on the receiving neuron
what are the main parts of the synapse
Presynaptic membrane
Synaptic vesicles
Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic membrane
what is the Presynaptic membrane
the membrane of the terminal button (the sending cell). This is where neurotransmitter is released from.
what is the Synaptic vesicles
contain molecules of neurotransmitter. They attach to the presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft
what is the Synaptic cleft
is the space between the pre- and postsynaptic membranes. It is filled with an extracellular fluid.
what is the Postsynaptic membrane
is the membrane of the receiving cell that is opposite the axon terminal
what is Electron microscopy
allows us to see small anatomical structures (e.g. synaptic vesicles and details of cell organelles) using a special electron microscope.
Neurotransmitters are what kind of molecules
signaling
Signaling molecules that bind to protein receptors are called what
ligands
Most cell signaling and cell communication occurs through what kind of interactions
ligand-receptor interactions.
Receptors can either be located where
on the cell membrane (surface receptors) or somewhere inside the cell (intracellular receptors).
Neurotransmitter receptors are generally what kind of receptors
surface receptors
Postsynaptic receptors are located where
on the postsynaptic membrane
Presynaptic receptors are located where
on the presynaptic membrane
Extrasynaptic receptors are located where
somewhere outside of the synapse.
Neurotransmitter receptors can also be classified as what
ionotropic receptors or metabotropic receptors
Neurotransmitter receptors can also be classified as ionotropic receptors what are these
ion channels
Neurotransmitter receptors can also be classified as metabotropic receptors what are these
protein receptors that can open ion channels through an intracellular signaling cascade
what are the 4 main Communication Between Neurons
Ligand
Binding site
Postsynaptic Receptor
Ligand-gated ion channel
what do Ligand do
General term for a signaling molecule (chemical) that binds to the binding site of a receptor. Neurotransmitters are ligands.