BIOL 651 Quiz 5: Neurotransmitters and Receptors

Amino acid neurotransmitters

Examples include Glutamate, GABA, and Glycine.

Biogenic amines

Includes Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Histamine.

Purine neurotransmitters

Adenosine and ATP are key examples.

Neuropeptides

Examples include Endorphins, Substance P, and Oxytocin.

Unique neurotransmitter

Acetylcholine (ACh) is distinct from other classes.

NMDA receptor

Requires glutamate and depolarization for activation.

Inhibition of inhibition

Endocannabinoids reduce GABA release, increasing excitability.

Biogenic amines characteristics

Synthesized from amino acids, modulate behaviors.

Peptide neurotransmitter synthesis

Synthesized as pre-propeptides in rough ER.

Peptide processing

Cleaved into active forms in Golgi apparatus.

Endocannabinoids synthesis

Synthesized on demand, not stored in vesicles.

Nitric oxide synthesis

Gaseous neurotransmitter synthesized on demand.

Retrograde signaling

Endocannabinoids act on presynaptic cells post-release.

Vesicular transporters

Some amino acids share transport mechanisms.

Metabotropic receptors

G-protein-coupled receptors initiating signaling cascades.

Tyrosine hydroxylase

Key enzyme for catecholamine synthesis, not all amines.

Serotonin synthesis

Derived from tryptophan, not tyrosine.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in neural signaling.

Calcium influx

Triggers exocytosis of neurotransmitters at synapses.

Synaptic plasticity

Involves NMDA receptors in memory formation.

Recycling

Recycling is via EAATs.

Acetylcholine breakdown

Acetylcholine is broken down in the synaptic cleft by acetylcholinesterase, not recycled via excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), which are involved in glutamate recycling.

Cholinesterase

Acetylcholine is degraded by acetylcholinesterase.

Acetylcholine synthesis

Pyruvate is a key component in acetylcholine synthesis.

VAChT

VAChT is the transporter responsible for packaging acetylcholine into synaptic vesicles.

Acetylcholine receptors

Acetylcholine acts on both nicotinic (ionotropic) and muscarinic (metabotropic) receptors.

Nicotinic and AMPA receptors

Both nicotinic and AMPA receptors are ionotropic receptors that function via a ligand-gated mechanism.

Muscarinic receptor

This is a metabotropic receptor, not ionotropic, so it does not operate via a direct gate mechanism.

Neuropeptides secretion

Neuropeptides are secreted by neurons, not glial cells.

Neuropeptides as hormones

Many neuropeptides, such as oxytocin and vasopressin, also function as hormones.

Neuropeptides packaging

Neuropeptides are packaged into large, dense-core vesicles.

Neuropeptides synthesis

Neuropeptides are synthesized as large precursor molecules.

Neuropeptides behavior

Neuropeptides often play roles in regulating mood, pain, and social behaviors.

GABA packaging

GABA is packaged into vesicles using the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT).

Glutamate packaging

Glutamate is packaged by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs), not VIAAT.

Serotonin packaging

Serotonin is packaged by vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs).

Endogenous opioids packaging

These are neuropeptides and are packaged into large, dense-core vesicles rather than through VIAATs.

Adrenalin signaling

Adrenalin (epinephrine) can act through both ionotropic and metabotropic mechanisms, depending on the type of receptor.

Serotonin receptors

Serotonin predominantly uses metabotropic receptors but does have one ionotropic receptor (5-HT3).

Norepinephrine receptors

Acts primarily through metabotropic receptors.

Histamine receptors

Uses only metabotropic receptors.

Dopamine receptors

Uses only metabotropic receptors.

NMDA receptor requirements

The NMDA receptor requires glycine or D-serine as a co-agonist.

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

The presynaptic terminal releases an inhibitory neurotransmitter, such as GABA.

Endocannabinoids release

Endocannabinoids are released from the postsynaptic terminal, not the presynaptic terminal.

Neurotransmitter packaging

Neuropeptides are generally packaged in large, dense-core vesicles, not clear-core ones.

Rimonabant action

Rimonabant blocks cannabinoid receptors, not opioid receptors.