WEEK 3: CELLULAR COMMUNICATION Flashcards
How many synapses are there at the end of each neuron?
Between 1 and many thousand!
Draw a synapse.
Receptor site (2)
–What neurotransmitters bind to
–Each one only binds with a specific neurotransmitter
What kinds of receptor sites are there in each post-synaptic terminal? (3)
–It depends!
–Each one only contains certain kinds of receptor sites
–Will only accept signals from neurotransmitters it has receptor sites for
Name two functions that mitochondrion power in the synapse?
–Transporting components from cell body to synapse
–Powering the breakdown of neurotransmitters
Synaptic vesicle (3)
–Create neurotransmitters
–Carry them from the neuron to the presynaptic terminal
–Release them into the synaptic cleft
Synaptic cleft
Small gap between pre- and post-synaptic terminals
How big is a synaptic cleft?
~20 nanometres
What are the two methods of communication between synapses?
Electrical
Chemical
What are neurotransmitters released by?
Vesicles
In chemical communication, what do neurotransmitters travel across to get to the postsynaptic terminal?
Synaptic cleft
What do neurotransmitters bind to in the postsynaptic terminal?
Postsynaptic receptors
What happens when neurotransmitters bind to the postsynaptic receptors?
Influx of ions in postsynaptic membrane
What does an influx of ions into post-synaptic membrane cause? (2)
–Depolarization
–If it reaches the threshold, action potential
In electrical communication, how is a message passed from one neuron to another? (3)
–Gap junction channel
–Ions flow directly through
–No neurotransmitter release
Which is quicker, electrical or chemical communication?
Electrical
Draw electrical communication
Draw chemical communication
What two kinds of receptors does chemical communication happen in?
–Ionotropic
–Metabotropic
How does chemical communication happen through inotropic receptors? (4)
–Neurotransmitter travels across synaptic cleft
–Binds to ionotropic receptor
–Ion channel opens
–Ions pass through into postsynaptic membrane
How does chemical communication happen through metabotropic receptors? (3)
–Neurotransmitter travels across synaptic cleft
–Binds to metabotropic receptor
–Affects interaction between receptor and G-protein
Give two examples of effects of the interaction between a receptor and G-protein?
–Neuron fires
–Protein synthesis
Draw the process of a neuron being caused to fire via a metabotropic receptor
Draw the process of protein synthesis being caused via a metabotropic receptor