LIFESCI 15 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Urban Legend, Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Adderall
Document Summary
Review section for final exam: monday, december 11. The most toxic substance known : botulinum toxin aka botox . Produced by clostridium botulinum, a bacterium common in marine and soil environment. Acts as a defense mechanism for the bacteria (for protection from intense heat, increase acidity, etc. ) Can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness in humans and other animals. How does it work: it gets into the terminal button at neuron/muscle synapses, it degrades several proteins required for fusion of vesicles with the terminal button membrane, it prevents release of acetylecholine. Muscle doesn"t contract: it paralyzes the muscle. And it stays in the terminal button for two to four months! Permanently damages serotonin producing cells in cerebral cortex (used in learning) and hippocampus (used for memory: crystal meth: Mimics an opium-like neurotransmitter in pain neurons, blocking their function: adderall: Blocks re-uptake of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin: etc. etc. , etc.