Amino acid neurotransmitter

File:Synapse diag1.svg	Activity at an axon terminal: Neuron A is transmitting a signal at the axon terminal to neuron B (receiving). Features: 1. Mitochondrion. 2. synaptic vesicle with neurotransmitters. 3. Autoreceptor. 4. Synapse with neurotransmitter released (serotonin). 5. Postsynaptic receptors activated by neurotransmitter (induction of a postsynaptic potential). 6. Calcium channel. 7. Exocytosis of a vesicle. 8. Recaptured neurotransmitter.

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) or excitatory amino acids (EAA). 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

↑ “Axon Terminal : on Medical Dictionary Online”. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Foye, William O. (2007). Foye’s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry. David A. Williams. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 446. ISBN 0781768799, 9780781768795 Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help). More than one of |first1= and |first= specified (help)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 D’haenen, Hugo (2002). Biological Psychiatry (digitised online by Google books). Paul Willner. John Wiley and Sons. p. 415. ISBN 0471491985, 9780471491989 Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help). Retrieved 2008-12-26. More than one of |first1= and |first= specified (help)