2 L7 Synaptic Plasticity 2

Question 1

Organotypic vs Acute brain slices

Answer 1

Organotypic- long-term, cultured slices used for developmental and plasticity studies
Acute- short-term, fresh slices uses for electrophysiology and drug response

Question 2

2 ionotropic glutamate receptors

Answer 2

AMPA and NDMA

Question 3

AMPA receptor subtypes

Answer 3

Ligand gated channel - Mediate fast depolarisation - Na channel

Question 4

NDMA receptor subtypes

Answer 4

Ligand AND ion gated - Require depolarisation to remove Mg from channel, therefore slightly slower response (not as slow as metabotropic receptors) - Ca AND Na channel

Question 5

AMPAR names and method of action

Answer 5

GluA1-GluA4 - Assemble as dimers to form either heterotetrameric or homomeric receptors (GluA1)

Question 6

AMPAR method of action

Answer 6

Glutamate binding opens channel - Influx of Na - Efflux of K - Depolarisation

Question 7

What do AMPAR subunits with GluA2 undergo

Answer 7

RNA editing- Glutamine and Arganine Prevents Ca influx, therefore GluA2 containing AMPARs are Ca impermeable

Question 8

GluA2 lacking AMPAR subunits

Answer 8

GluA2 lacking AMPAR subunits are permeable to Ca

Question 9

How can GluA1 activity be altered

Answer 9

Phosphorylation

Question 10

What does phosphorylation of GluA1 by CaMKII affect

Answer 10

Serine831 enhances single channel conductance

Question 11

What does phosphorylation of GluA1 by PKA affect

Answer 11

Serine845 enhances open probability and important for retention at plasma membrane

Question 12

How is NO activity regulated

Answer 12

By controlling NO synthesis

Question 13

Is NO stored or synthesised on demand

Answer 13

Synthesised on demand

Question 14

How does NO travel

Answer 14

NO diffuses from nerve terminals (so can act on cells in this range) - Diffuses into cells

Question 15

How does NO take effect

Answer 15

By activating second messenger pathways

Question 16

How is NO inactivated

Answer 16

By interaction with substrate

Question 17

What is LTP a consequence of

Answer 17

Strong NDMAR activation

Question 18

How is strong NDMAR activation achieved

Answer 18

Increase in EFFECTIVENESS and NUMBER of AMPARs at activated synapse

Question 19

Are AMPARs dynamic or static- Explain

Answer 19

Highly dynamic- AMPARs shuttle in and out of synapses which results in long-lasting changes in synaptic strength

Question 20

Describe lateral mobility of AMPARs

Answer 20

Along the cell surface - Between synaptic and extra-synaptic regions

Question 21

Describe how dynamic AMPARs affects trafficking and retention in the PSD

Answer 21

Increases TRAFFICKING and RETENTION in the PSD

Question 22

Polyribosomes location

Answer 22

Found in spines but translocate from dendritic shafts to spines in response to activity

Question 23

mRNA location

Answer 23

Found in dendrites - mRNA is translocated in response to activity

Question 24

Glutamate receptors synthesis and location

Answer 24

Glutamate receptors synthesised locally from pre-existing mRNA

Question 25

Long term changes require altered gene expression- How is this achieved

Answer 25

via CREB phosphorylation which results in growth of dendritic spines

Question 26

ALZHEIMERS FLASHCARDS