Neurotransmission Flashcards
What is neurotransmission?
The process by which neurons communicate with one another across synapses using neurotransmitters (endogenous chemical messenger)
What is the resting membrane potential of a neuron
-70mV
What is the function of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump?
Uses energy from ATP to move out 3 Na+ ions and move in 2 K+ ions against their concentration gradient
What is the function of potassium leak channels?
move K+ ions out of the cell down its concentration gradient
A- proteins are permeable and can leave the cell. True or false
False
Impermeable, cannot leave the cell
How is the resting membrane potential of a neuron kept negative?
- Na+/K+ ATPase pump
-potassium leak channels - A- proteins
Briefly state the stages of an action potential
- Resting potential
- Depolarization (threshold potential)
- Repolarization
What is the threshold potential of neurones ?
-55mV
When the threshold potential is reached an all or nothing action potential is fired
During repolarisation, hyperpolarisation briefly occurs. Describe hyperpolarisation.
Hyperpolarisation is also known as the refractory period. At this point no other action potential can be reached.
During hyperpolarisation, the membrane potential goes past -70mV however gradually over time ion concentrations return to resting levels and the membrane potential returns to -70mV
What is an inhibitory post synaptic potential (IPSP)?
a temporary hyper-polarization of the post synaptic membrane caused by flow of negatively charged ions (e.g. Cl-) into the post synaptic cell
What is an excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP)?
these are synaptic inputs that induce depolarisation of the membrane, bringing potential to the threshold potential and closer to firing the action potential
What is the result of an action potential in a neuron?
release of neurotransmitters
What are the classifications of main neurotransmistters?
Amino acid
Monoamines
Peptide
Amino acid neurotransmitters are able to carry out most functions. Give examples of amino acid neurotransmitters.
Glutamate
GABA
Glycine
What are the main functions of monoamine neurotransmitters?
Attention
Cognition
Emotion
Give examples of monoamine neurotransmitters
Serotonin
Histamine
Dopamine
Adrenaline
Noradrenaline
What is the main function of peptide neurotransmitters?
Pain
Give examples of peptide neurotransmitters
Opioids (endorphins)
“Other” neurotransmitters include acetylcholine. Briefly state some functions of this neurotransmitter
Autonomic nervous system
Motor nerves
How is glutamate synthesized?
glutamate can be generated from glutamine by the action of glutaminase in the mitochondria
glutamate can also be generated by the transamination of aspartate or alanine
Glutamate is stored in the synaptic vesicles and released following __________.
Ca2+ (calcium ion) influx
How is glutamate metabolised?
Glutamate is primarily takend up by GLT-1 and GLAST transporter proteins located on adjacent glial cells
The glutamate is converted into glutamine in the glial cells
Glutamine is then taken back up by neurones and is converted in the mitochondria to glutamate
Some neurones also express EAAC1 which recycles glutamate directly
Glutamate receptor are ________ receptors. What kind of receptors are they?
Ionotrophic and metabotropic
Describe the structure of glutamate receptors
Form tetrameric complexes with a central pore
each subunit consists of a transmembrane domain, ligand binding domain and an extracellular N terminal domain
Give examples of glutamate receptors
NMDA
AMPA
Kainate
What is required for NMDA activation ?
Simultaneous binding of glutamate and glycine neurotransmitters
What prevents excessive activation of NMDA receptor ?
magnesium ion blocking the ion channel
Voltage dependent Mg2+ block
Briefly describe the permeability of NMDA receptors to Ca2+ ions
Highly permeable
NMDA receptors have a slow activation-deactivation (ms) and weak desensitisation. True or false
True
What are the possible subunits for an NMDA receptor?
N1-N3
N1
N2
N3
2 N1 subunits present
2 N2/N3 subunits present
AMPA glutamate receptors have fast activation- deactivation and strong desensitisation. True or false
True
Describe the permeability of AMPA receptors to Ca2+ ions
less permeable
What are the possible subunits for AMPA receptors
A1- 4
A1
A2
A3
A4
Kainate glutamate receptors constitute ____ possible subunits
5
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
What is thought to contribute to cell death in a number of neurological disorders including alzheimers, huntingtons, parkinsons, stroke and MS?
NMDA-R mediated Ca2+ overload
What can be used pharmacologically to combat NMDA-R mediated Ca2+ overload?
Ketamine
Memantine
What is ketamine?
a non-competitive open channel blocker
Ketamine is licensed for use for…
the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia
may also be useful as an analgesic and in the treatment of major depressive disorder
What is memantine?
Non-competitive open channel blocker
Memantine is currently used to treat …
moderate to sever alzheimers
Memantine is a ______ affinity NMDA receptor antagonist
low affinity
Briefly describe the on and off kinetics of memantine
fast on-off kinetics
What is the consequence of AMPA and Kainate receptor over-activation?
glutamate induced neurotoxicity
Antagonists of glutamate are _____________. They help reduced ischaemia induced white matter injury.
neuroprotective
List drugs that act on AMPA and Kainate receptors
Topiramate
Perampanel
Texampanel
Topiramate inhibits which receptors? What is its clinical use?
inhibits both AMPA and kainate receptors
licensed for use as an adjunct for epileptic seizures and prophylaxis of migraine
What is perampanel?
A highly selective non competitive AMPA antagonist
What is the current clinical use of perampanel ?
adjunct for epileptic seizures
Tezampanel is more selective for which receptor?
Kainate receptor
What is the current clinical use of tezampanel?
currently being investigated for treatment of migranes
Where is the glutamate binding site on metabotropic glutamate receptors?
between the two lobes of the VFT domains
(venus fly trap)
Where are metabotropic glutamate receptors primarily located?
presynaptically
Metabotropic glutamate receptors play an important role in _________.
Long term depression (LTD)
Metabotropic glutamate receptors are grouped into 3 classes. What are group I metabotropic receptors ?
mGlu1 and mGlu5
Gq linked to PI-PLC pathway (phosphoinositide- phospholipase C)
Metabotropic glutamate receptors are able to form ___________ structures
heterodimeric
mGlu5 antagonists are thought to…
reverse intellectual disability
Fragile X syndrome
What is the function of metabotropic glutamate receptors?
they have been known to modulate the activity of other receptors e.g. modulation of NMDA-R
What receptors/variants are in group II mGLuRs ?
mGlu2
mGlu3
Group II and III mGluRs are linked to…
Gi- inhibition of adenylate cyclase
What receptors/variants are in group III mGluRs?
mGlu4
mGlu6
mGlu7
mGlu8
Positive modulators of group II mGluRs are being investigated for …
schizophrenia
Positive modulators of what group III variant is being investigated for treatment of parkinsons?
mGlu4
GABA is synthesised from _______ by the action of what enzymes?
Glutamate
Glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme (GAD)
GAD (Glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme) is comprised of two different molecular weights. What are the molecular weights?
65kDa
67kDa
What is the major isoform of GAD enzyme in the brain?
GAD65
The majority of the GAD65 isoform is inactive. True or false
True
During metabolism of GABA, the majority of GABA is taken up by ______ in _________ and repackaged.
GABA transporters- GAT
in Presynaptic terminals
What enzyme catabolises GABA to glutamine ? Where is this enzyme found?
GABA transaminase (GABA-T)
found in glial cells
GABA ionotropic receptos belong to what family of receptors? What do they form?
Cys- loop family of receptors
They form pentameric complexes with a central pore
Each subunit of GABA ionotropic receptors consists of…
Extracellular ligand binding domain
Transmembrane domain with 4 transmembrane alpha helices
GABAa ionotropic receptor is permeable to what ion?
Chloride
GABAa receptors are assemblies of what subunits?
alpha 1-6
beta 1-4
gamma 1-4
delta
epsilon
pie
theta
rho
GABAa receptors are usually composed of 5 subunits. What are the most common subunits for a GABAa receptor?
2alpha
2 beta
1 gamma
How many binding sites for GABA are present on a GABAa receptor? What are there referred to as?
2
alpha-beta interface
GABAa receptors also contain a benzodiazepine site to enable benzodiazepine binding. What is this referred to as?
alpha- gamma interface
GABAc ionotropic receptors are chloride permeable ion channels that are composed entirely of _____ subunits.
Rho subunits
Where are GABAc ionotropic receptors expressed?
Expressed exclusively in the retina
GABAa receptors are allosterically modulated by what chemicals/compounds?
Benzodiazepines
An example of a benzodiazepine is…
Diazepam
What subunits are important in benzodiazepine binding to GABAa receptors?
Alpha 1,2,3 AND 5
Beta
Gamma 2
Benzodiazepines are useful in the treatment of…
seizures
anxiety
insomnia
alcohol withdrawal
muscle spasms
What subunit of GABAa receptors mediates the sedative effects of benzodiazepines?
Alpha 1 subunits
What subunits of GABAa receptors mediate the anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines?
alpha 2 and 3
What is the effect on barbiturates on GABAa receptors?
they can stimulate channel opening independent of GABA binding at a concentration >50uM
An example of a barbiturate used to treat epilepsy is…
Phenobarbital
An example of a barbiturate that is used as an anaesthetic is…
Thiopental
What is the effect of steroids such as progesterone derivative on GABAa receptors ?
they are able to open the channel directly
at a concentration >50uM