Neurotransmitter System I: Glutamate Flashcards
What are the criteria for a neurotransmitter?
Synthesised and stored in the pre-synaptic neuron
Release by a presynaptic axon terminal upon stimulation
Produce a response in the post-synaptic cell
What is glutamate?
major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS
What do over half of all the brain synapses release?
Glutamate
What is glutamate synthesised from, and using what enzyme?
Glutamine, using glutaminase
Where is glutamate synthesised?
Nerve terminals
How is glutamate transported into vesicles?
Counter transport with H+ ions using VGLUTs
How is glutamate retaken up?
Sodium ion dependant excitatory amino acid transporters
What enzyme degrades glutamate?
Glutamine synthase
How is glutamine transported out of the glial cell and into the neurons?
SN1 and SAT2 transporters
What are the ionotropic glutamate receptors?
AMPA, NMDA, Kainate
What are the metabotropic glutamate receptors?
Group I, II and III
What do NMDA receptors allow the entry of?
Both sodium and calcium ions
What do AMPA and Kainate receptors allow the entry of?
Sodium
What do AMPA, NMDA and kainate receptors allow out?
Potassium
What are the four AMPA receptor subunit types?
GluA 1, 2, 3 and 4
What is the most common makeup of an AMPA receptor?
Two GluA 2 subunits and two GluA 1, 3, or 4
How many binding sites does the AMPA receptor have?
Four
How many binding sites must be occupied for AMPA channel opening?
Two
What prevents calcium ion flow in AMPA receptors?
GluA2 subunit
What are the subunit types for NMDA?
GluN 1, 2 and 3
What is the most common NMDA structure?
Two GluN1 and two GluN2
What is special about GluN3 subunits?
Nonfunctional and therefore inhibitory to NMDA receptor function
Are the NMDA receptors ligand or voltage gated?
Both