PSYC 3030 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Choline Acetyltransferase, Acetylcholine Receptor, Acetyl-Coa

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3030
• Professor: Boyer Winters

Document Summary

Neurotransmitter systems: acetylcholine i; synthesis, storage, release, inactivation. A small molecule with a simple chemical structure (n+ with 4 methyl groups: quaternary amine) Acetyltransferase: moves the acetyl from the coenzyme to the choline. Choline precursor therapy to treat cholinergic disorders like alzheimer"s (not very effective) Choline: two major sources: found in vegetables, egg yolk, kidneys, liver, seeds, legumes. Enters the brain through specific carrier systems in the membrane of the capillary endothelial cells (due to the blood brain barrier); this blood-brain barrier is bidirectional. Choline enters neurons via a low-affinity uptake mechanism. Not the main source of synthesis: from previously released ach, via a na+ dependant high-affinity uptake mechanisms (hachu); this mechanism is estimated to recycle 35% to 50% of all liberated choline back into. Acetyl group + coenzyme a, synthesized in the mitochondria (contains coenzyme a) and derived from the metabolism of sugar and fats, by-products. Transport from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm is ca+ dependant.