SIM: Mechanism of Drug Action and Signaling Mechanisms (Cecilia A. Jimeno, MD) Flashcards
What chemicals were systemically injected into chicks in Langley’s Experiment? What did these drugs cause?
Curare and nicotine; paralysis
In Langley’s Experiment, what did additional nicotine injection produce?
Contraction of certain muscles
In Langley’s Experiment, what did co-administration of curare do?
Reduced nicotine response
What are the two distinct cell constituents revealed by Langley’s Experiment?
- Effector or target tissue/organ
2. Receptors
What substances produce their effects by combining with the receptive substance? Do axon endings matter?
- Nicotine
- Curare
- Atropine
- Pilocarpine
- Strychnine
…and other alkaloids!
A structure to which drugs bind, causing an action which results to observable effects?
Receptor
What do you call the agents that bind to receptors?
Ligands
The agent that binds to a receptor and causes an alteration in cellular function.
Agonist
The agent that is devoid of activity and prevents action of an endogenous agonist.
Antagonist
Endogenous substances that serve as signalling mechanisms to enable biologic effects
Second Messengers
Tightness with which a drug binds to its receptor.
This applies to which substances?
Affinity
Agonists and antagonists
Measure of a drug to produce physiologic effects
This applies to which substances?
Intrinsic Activity
Agonists only
What are the properties of receptors?
- Saturability
- Reversibility
- Stereoselectivity
- Agonist Specificity
- Tissue Specificity
Define: Saturability
Receptors present in FINITE numbers
Define: Reversibility
Non-covalent interactions present
Define: Stereoselectivity
Variation in +/-, l/d, and S/R forms of optical isomers
Define: Agonist Specificity
Preference for closely related agonists
Define: Tissue Specificity
Binding to tissues known to be sensitive to drug and at concentrations consistent with physiologic concentration of agent
T/F: Acetylcholine is used by all motor neurons.
True
What are the precursors of acetylcholine?
Acetyl CoA and Choline
What is the enzyme responsible for production of acetylcholine?
Choline O-Acetyltransferase
How many subunits does the Ach receptor have?
5 (2 alpha, 1 beta, 1 gamma and 1 delta)
Where do the Ach molecules bind on the receptor?
On the two alpha subunits
What is tubocurarine?
The purified form of curare that was used as a skeletal muscle relaxant.
Describe: Tubocurarine
It is a neuromuscular blocking drug and antagonist of acetylcholine.
Describe the relationship between dosage and effect of tubocurarine.
Small doses - sub threshold potentials
Larger doses - blockade
What has tubocurarine been replaced by?
Non-depolarizing anaesthetics
What are the effects of tubocurarine?
- Weakens neuromuscular transmission
- Diminishes Ach-esterase inhibitors
- Blocks pre junctional sodium channel
- Interferes with mobilisation of Ach at nerve endings
Describe the ion concentrations of Na+, K+ and Cl- inside and outside of the cell.
Na+ and Cl- concentrations are greater in the ECF.
K+ concentration is greater in the cell.
What is the resting membrane potential?
- 70mV
What is the threshold membrane potential?
- 55mV
Increased conductance of K+ leads to what?
Hyperpolarization
Increased conductance of Na+ leads to what?
Depolarization
Increase conductance of Cl- leads to what?
Hyperpolarization
What enzyme is responsible for the formation of GABA?
Glutamic acid decarboxylase
Describe: GABA
Inhibitory substance released at presynaptic terminal that causes presynaptic inhibition of postsynaptic neurons
Describe: GABA receptor
- It has five subunits (2 alpha-1, 2 beta-2 and 1 gamma-2)
- Exhibits various pentameric combination
- Attenuates excitatory effect by opening ion channels
- Two types - GABAa and GABAb
Describe: GABAa receptor
- Opens Cl- channels
2. Mediate fast IPSPs
Describe: GABAb receptor
- Inhibit Ca2+ channels or open K+ channels
2. Mediate slow IPSPs
Where does the GABA ligand bind on the receptor?
Between the alpha-1 and beta-2 subunits
Where does benzodiazepine bind to?
Close to alpha-1 and gamma-2 subunits
What is the clinical significance of GABA receptor drugs?
- Prevent transmission of pain signals
2. Cause coma and respiratory depression
Describe: Diazepam
- Allosteric activator for GABA
2. Lipid-soluble and long-acting benzodiazepine
When is diazepam used?
- Short-term treatment of anxiety and acute alcohol withdrawal (orally)
- Sedative, anticonvulsant, skeletal muscle relaxant, amnestic and anti-anxiety agent (parenterally)
WARNING: long-term use can result in habituation and withdrawal
Enumerate effects of GABA and Benzodiazepines
- Sedation (block cortical and limbic arousal pathways)
- Muscle relaxation (depress motor nerve function)
- Anticonvulsion
- Anesthesia (BDPs given through IV may penetrate brain)
- Heart failure (if hypovolemic)
- Medullary respiratory center depression
GPCRs are also called what?
Serpentine receptors
T/F: The same ligand can activate many different GPCR family members.
True
What is the main mechanism of action of GPCRs?
Binding and hydrolysis of GTP, which leads to amplification of transduced signal
Example of GPCRs
- Muscarinic Ach Receptor
- Adrenoreceptor
- Dopamine Receptor
- Serotonin (5-HT) Receptor
- Opiate Receptors
- Peptide Receptors
- Olfactory Chemoreceptors
Upon activation of the GPCR, the G-protein dissociates into what?
- Alpha subunit
2. Beta-gamma complex
What are the two types of G-proteins with respect to adenylyl cyclase interaction?
- Inhibitory G-protein (Gi)
2. Stimulatory G-protin (Gs)
Where does the alpha subunit of the G-protein travel to first upon activation?
Adenylyl cyclase
Describe the structure of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)
It has two catalytic and two regulatory subunits.