Pharmacology Flashcards
What is the function of receptors?
They are the sensing elements of the cell
They respond to chemical messengers e.g. hormones, transmitters
They induce a specific response within cells
- induce the release of or synthesis of hormones/transmitters
- Turn on/off a cell
- Increase/decrease gene expression
What does an agonist do?
Activates a receptor
What does an antagonist do?
Prevents a receptor from activating
Draw what happens when an antagonist is present
Draw what happens when an agonist is present
Agonist
Directly leads to ion channel opening and closing
Transduction mechanisms lead to enzyme activation/inhibition, ion channel ovulation and DNA transcription
Antagonist
Leads to no effect because endogenous mediators are blocked
What are ion channels? And how can drugs interact with ion channels?
Ion channels are channels in/on a cell that open to allow ions across.
An increase or decrease in ion concentrations can activate/inhibit specific cell functions e.g.
hormone/ transmitter release and gene transcription.
Drugs can interact with ion channels:
- At the site of the ion channel
- Via intermediate stages involved in channel opening
What does an ion channel blocker do?
Blocks the ion channel so nothing can pass through it.
What does an ion channel modulator do?
Increases or decreases ion channel opening probability
What is the function of enzymes?
Increase the rate of a specific reaction
They act to speed up the formation or breakdown of specific hormones and neurotransmitters e.g. serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine
What is a enzyme inhibitor?
To stop the action of the enzyme. No reaction occurs.
What is an enzyme false substrate?
To slow an enzyme down a false substrate is introduced. Introduces inert molecules so that it takes longer to break down the active molecules.
For example 10 molecules of serotonin is broken down in 1 minute. But if 10 molecules of inert substances are added to the 10 serotonin molecules, it will take longer to break it down.
What is an enzyme pro-drug?
A Pro-drug is an inactive drug before it reaches the enzyme. The enzyme works on the pro-drug, activates it and then the active drug is produced.
What are the drug actions of enzymes?
Drugs can act to inhibit enzyme function e.g. monoamine oxidase inhibitors increase serotonin
Enzymes can be used as drug activators. This allows a drug to be designed so that it is active only in the regions where a specific enzyme is found.
What is the function of carrier molecules?
Provide transport of small organic molecules across cell membranes.
Facilitate the transport of lipid insoluble molecules e.g. transport of glucose and amino acids into cells and the reuptake of neurotransmitters e.g. noradrenalin and serotonin
How do normal transporters work?
Molecule passes through the cell membrane as normal
How do transport inhibitors work?
Can either block the entrance of the cell so nothing can enter it or it can remain inside the cell membrane so no molecules can pass through.
How do false substrates work for transporters?
A false substrate means that something can be placed in the cell that isn’t usually found in there. Can ‘trick’ the transporter into thinking that the molecule usually lives in the cell.
Can be used in cancer treatment to introduce drugs that kill the cells.
What is the purpose of a receptor?
Explain the two types of response given:
What does the rate of response depend on?
The purpose of a receptor is to elicit a cellular response.
The responses can be:
Rapid e.g. synaptic transmission occurring within milliseconds
Slow: e.g. thyroid hormones induced response occurring over hours and days
The rate of receptor responses depends on the molecular structure and nature of the transduction mechanism.
What is a ligand-gated ion channel? And what do they typically respond to?
Also known as ionotropic receptors or transmitter gated ion channels.
They are similar to ion channels but incorporate a ligand- binding (receptor)
They typically respond to fast acting neurotransmitters e.g. nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, GABA A receptors and NMDA receptors
What are G-protein coupled receptors? What is the response rate?
Also known as metabotropic receptors
They mediate their response via intracellular (located on the cells membrane within the cell) proteins called G-Protein activation
Responses tend to be slower than those observed with ligand-gated ion channels e.g muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and adrenoreceptors
What are kinase-linked receptors?
They are membrane receptors responding to protein meditators.
Linked to an intracellular domain by a single transmembrane helix.
In many cases the intracellular domain is enzymatic in nature e.g. receptors for insulin, cytokines, growth factors
What are nuclear receptors?
They regulate gene transcription
Located in the cytosol
Migrate to the nuclear compartment when a ligand is present e.g. steroid hormones and thyroid hormones
What is the timescales of;
A - ligand-gated ion channels
B- G-protein coupled receptors
C- kinase-linked receptors
D: nuclear receptors
A milliseconds
B seconds
C hours
D days
Draw out the summary of receptor types:
See summary of receptor types in lecture 1
Draw the structure of the 4 receptor families:
See diagram in lecture 1