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Amino acid neurotransmitters

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An amino acid neurotransmitter is a chemical substance which is able to transmit a nerve message across a synapse. Neurotransmitters (chemicals) are packaged into vesicles that cluster beneath the axon terminal membrane on the presynaptic side of a synapse in a process called endocytosis.[1] Amino acid neurotransmitter release (exocytosis) is dependent upon calcium Ca2+ and is a presynaptic response. There are inhibitory amino acids ([IAA]]) with inhibitory postsynaptic potential or excitatory amino acids (EAA) with excitatory postsynaptic potential. Some EAA are L-Glutamate, L-Aspartate, L-Cysteine, and L-Homocysteine.[2] These neurotransmitter systems will activate post-synaptic cells.[3] Some IAA include GABA, Glycine, β-Alanine, and Taurine.[2] The IAA depress the activity of post-synaptic cells.[3]
See also Amino acid non protein functions

References Edit

  1. Axon Terminal : on Medical Dictionary Online. URL accessed on 2008-12-25.
  2. 2.0 2.1 (2007) Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, David A. Williams, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  3. 3.0 3.1 D'haenen, Hugo (2002). Biological Psychiatry (digitised online by Google books), Paul Willner, John Wiley and Sons. URL accessed 2008-12-26.

Amino acids

Essential amino acid | Protein | Peptide | Genetic code

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