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Neuroscience > Post synaptic events > Flashcards

Post synaptic events Flashcards

1
Q

how does a neurotransmitter affect the post synaptic membrane?

A

opens channels

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2
Q

what is an EPSP?

A

excitatory post synaptic potential

- single EPSP may not be large enough to elicit an action potential

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3
Q

how does an inhibitory NT work?

A
  • influx of chloride ions
  • inhibitory EPSP
  • Instead of depolarising it hyperpolarises the membrane
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4
Q

what are ligand gated ion channels?

A
  • they are ion tropic
  • receptor sensitive to NT
  • when NT binds causes a conformational change to open the channel
  • fast response
  • can also be located on the presynaptic membrane (auto-receptor)
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5
Q

what are G protein coupled receptors?

A
  • metabotropic
  • 7 transmembrane spanning protein
  • bound to a G protein
  • G stands for GTPase
  • signalling protein
  • they are triemric
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6
Q

how do G proteins work?

A

G proteins bind to GTP and migrate/diffuse along the membrane and activate enzymes
- G protein subunits beta and gamma can interact with ion cahnnels

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7
Q

what sort of response are GPCRs?

A
  • slow response
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8
Q

how was the structure of Acetylcholine receptor structure determined?

A
  • used x-ray diffraction to look at arrays of the receptors in membranes
  • electric ray, have an electric organ with lots of acetylcholine
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9
Q

what is the structure of acetylcholine receptor?

A
  • ionotropic, nicotonic acetylchlline receptor
  • metabotropic, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
  • 5 subunits: 2alpha, beta, gamma, delta –> pentameric
  • each subunit has four TM domains
  • M2 helix forms the pore
  • large extracellular N terminal domain creates the ligand binding site
  • each subunit forms a ring
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10
Q

what does acetylcholine receptor do?

A
  • at the skeletal mucle neuromuscular junction it mediates muscle contraction
  • CNS - key in the pre-frontal cortex whih regulates transmission
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11
Q

how do acetylcholine receptors work?

A

Ach molecules bind to the x-subunits causing the receptor to undergo a conformation change

  • channel opens allowing cations to pass through due to large pore size
  • regulates membrane potential of other synpases
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12
Q

what are two ionotropic receptors for glutamate?

A
  • AMPA and Kainate

- NMDA

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13
Q

what is AMPA?

A

agonist: AMPA - drug

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14
Q

what is Kainate?

A

agonist: Kainic acid

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15
Q

what is AMPA and Kainate?

A
  • fast EPSP via increase in conductance to monovalent cations
  • permeable to Na+ and K+
  • gated by glutamate binding
  • produce rapid depolarisation that decays relatively rapidly
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16
Q

what is NMDA?

A

agonist: N-methyl-D-aspartate

17
Q

what does NMDA do?

A
  • Ca2+ dependent EPSP that is slower
  • opens in the presence of glutamate and depolarisation of the post synaptic neuron
  • needs a strong stimulus to overcome the Mg2+
  • its gating Ca2+, will trigger signalling
18
Q

what response do AMPA receptors mediate?

A

fast

19
Q

what response do NMDA receptors mediate?

A

slow and long

20
Q

what is glutamate?

A
  • post synspase found on the dendritic shape
  • sticks out from the dendrite, where the receptors are
  • theres lots of proteins in the post synapse so very electron dense
  • the whole of this complex is involved in learning and memory
  • experience alters the spines on dendrites
21
Q

what type of receptor is the GABA receptor?

A

iontropic

22
Q

what happens if you have drugs promoting GABA binding?

A

they have an inhibitory effect

  • benzodiazepines (increase binding tranquilizing activity)
  • barbituates (treatment of elipsy)
  • alcohol (increases effects of inhibitory GABA ligand)
23
Q

where are GABA receptors found?

A
  • usually found on the cell body (axosomatic)
24
Q

how do GABA receptors work?

A
  • excitiation from dendrites due to activation of glutamate receptors regulated by GABA in the cell body
  • without GABA neurons would fire action potential continuously under the influence of glutamate
25
Q

what is synaptic integration?

A

inhibition and excitation together

26
Q

what can synaptic integration do?

A
  • have different combinations which produce different effects
27
Q

how can a ligand gated ion channel use synaptic integration?

A
  • eg Na+/K+/Cl-

- direct regulation of membrane potential

28
Q

how can a metabotropic receptor depended activation of 2nd messenger signalling channel use synaptic integration?

A
  • eg cAMP

- regulation of channel or receptor number or activity by phosphorylase gene expression

29
Q

how can a lNMDA receptor dependent activation use synaptic integration?

A
  • eg Ca2+

- regulation of membrane trafficking and gene expression

30
Q

how can diffusible retrograde signals secreted from post synapse use synaptic integration?

A
  • eg cannabinoids, NO
  • activation of metabotropic GPCRs or signalling enzymes to regulate channel activity
  • released from the post synapses travel to the presynapse and regulate NT release
  • endogenous cannabinoids - act on receptors normally in your brain
  • diffuse across synpase and interact with a G protein receptor

Neuroscience (11 decks)

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