NROSCI 0081 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Ligand-Gated Ion Channel, Membrane Protein, Acetylcholine
Document Summary
Criteria: produced within a neuron, released as response to an action potential, must cause a biological effect by binding a receptor, after release, the chemical must be inactivated. If applied exogenously experimentally, it should have the same effect as when released by a neuron. Ionotropic: membrane protein with two parts, a binding site for a neurotransmitter, a pore allows ion movement, rapidly changing membrane voltage, metabotropic, membrane protein with a binding site for a neurotransmitter, but no ion pore. Linked to a g-protein: alter ion flow in a membrane channel, some make new proteins, including ion channels, excitatory receptors & inhibitory receptors, excitatory. Increases the likelihood of action potential: depolarization. Inhibitory: decreases the likelihood of an action potential, hyperpolarization. It all depends on the receptor, not the neurotransmitter: ex. Types of neurotransmitters: classical/small molecule neurotransmitters, acetylcholine. In pns, neuromuscular junctions: excitatory and inhibitory effects, broken down by acetylcholinesterase.
