Neurobio 2.6 Flashcards
Method used in first experiment suggesting presence of vesicles.
Bernard Katz recorded from endplate of frog neuromuscular junction w/o any stimulation.
What did Katz observe?
Spontaneous mini EPPs (minis) at regular intervals. Usually 1 mv, but sometimes ones two or three times larger.
Size of a mini in a frog neuromuscular junctino
0.7 mV
Typical duration of mini
10ms
Quanta
Packets of neurotransmitters
Each quantum produces
1 mini
According to quantum hypothesis, a full size EPP occurs when
an action potential causes the synchronous release of many quanta
Quantum size
Size of a mini
Quantum size of most central synapses
0.1-0.2 mV
Quantum content
number of packets (quantums) released due to an action potential
Quantum content at neuromuscular junction
About 200
Quantum content in CNS
between zero and 2
Physical correlates of quantums are
vesicles
Why is an AP in muscle cells guaranteed to generate a response?
Quantum number is so high
Places vesicles might be found in presynaptic terminal
- Readily releasable pool
2. Storage pool
Tends to be anchored to cytoskeleton
storage pool
Docked at active zones of presynaptic terminal
Readily releasable pool
Anchors vesicles to cytoskeleton
Synapsin I
Synapsin I is located
in vesicle membrane
Effect of calcium on synapsin I
interaction between vesicles and cytoskelton becomes weaker, freeing vesicles
Two proteins calcium binds upon entering terminal of presynaptic cell
Synapsin I (storage pool) Synaptotagmin I (readily releasable pool)
Two effects of calcium entering terminals of presynaptic cell
Readily releasable vesicles released and storage pool vesicles mobilized
Function of the SNARE complex
Docking of vesicles at active zone of presynaptic membrane.