Peptides in the CNS Flashcards
How large are peptides in the CNS?
Typically 3-200 amino acids long. This makes them much larger than most NTs
What are the 4 classes of peptide mediators?
1) Neurotransmitters/ Neuroendocrine mediators
2) Hormones
3) Growth Factors
4) Immune system mediators
What is the major difference between how classical NTs and peptides are made and stored?
Classical NTs are stored in vesicles and reuptaken to be recycled. However, peptides are synthesised in the cell body with no reuptake mechanism
What are the three levels of neuropeptide expression?
1) Always present and ready to be released
2) Low levels present and available on demand
3)Very lown levels and found predominantly prenatally
What are the stages of peptide processing?
1) Prepro
2) Pro
3) Peptide
Different enzymes in different tissues cleave differently in order to synthesise specific products
What is POMC?
Prepro-opiomelanocortin
Which process is POMC involved with?
Appetite regulation
Which neuron directly increases or decreases hunger?
Satiety neuron
Which neurons input to satiety neurons?
AgRP and POMC neurons
When the AgRP neuron is activated, what is the result?
POMC and satiety neurons are inhibited, which induces hunger
When a person is full and the POMC neuron is activated, what is the result?
The satiety neuron is activated which induces the ‘full’ feeling
