Part 1: Synthesis, Release & Inativation

What are the precursors to ACh and what food are they found in. What is the function of ACh?

A small molecule NT with dietary precursors choline and acetate

Choline: egg yolk, salmon, avocado

Acetate: vinegar and lemon juice

ACh activates muscles and inhibits/excites internal organs

What are the steps in ACh synthesis?

Acetate becomes choline with acetyl coenzyme A and then ACh with choline acetyltransferaes (ChAT)

Where is acetyl coenzyme A found and where is choline acetyltransferase found?

Acetyl coenzyme A: mitochondria

Choline acetyltransferase also known as ChAT: cytoplasm

What is the name of the transporter that moves ACh into vesicles?

ACh is moved into vesicles by VACht: it’s called vesicular ACh transporters

Where ACh will be stored at axon terminals

What does vesamicol do?

Blocks VAChT (the ACh transporters) and thus decreases the amount of ACh released when neurons fire

not affecting synthesis

What does black widow spider venom do to ACh?

Release increases with venom intake in the PNS causing muscle twitching

Botulinum toxin

Decreases ACh release

Wrinkle treatments this is (Botox) causes localized paralysis for several months

What does ACHe do on the membrane of the postsynaptic cell?

ACHe breaks down ACh after release in syntactic cleft muscles cells can release ACHe into synapse to degrade ACh

What do eserine and prostigman do

They block inactivation and treat myasthenia gravis as there are fewer muscle receptors for ACh leading to facial droop

Excess choline after breakdown goes back into nerve terminal