1 Iris Bakouli - Neurochemistry
Basic neuronal anatomy
Basic neuronal anatomy
Neurons → nervous cells
Soma → cell body, contained watery fluid (cytosol), organelles are within soma
In all cells
Organelles
- Rough ER/Ribosomes → protein synthesis sites
- Golgi apparatus → sorts newly synthesised proteins for delivery to locations in neuron
- Mitochondria → cellular respiration and yielding ATP (energy
- Nucleus → spherical, centrally located. Contains chromosomes (DNA(genes))
- Genome → entire length of DNA that comprises genetic information in
chromosomes (25,000 words comprise genome). We now know where genes
can be found on each chromosome.
Membrane → a barrier to enclose cytoplasm and exclude certain substances from entering
Cytoskeleton → microtubules, neurofilaments and microfilaments give the neuron its
characteristic shape
Specific to neurons
Causes of psychiatric disorders
- Gene copy number variations → occurring at level of conception, long dstrschews of
DNA that contain genes are missing or genes are duplicated
- Mutations → topographical eros in a gene that regulate gene expression (proteins can
be abnormal or missing, disrupting nerve function)
Mice are used → in order to delete genes and then study progression of disease with goal of
correcting it
,2 Iris Bakouli - Neurochemistry
Classifying neurons
1. Based on number of neurites (axons and dendrites)
2. Based on dendrites (variable shapes and sizes of spines)
3. Based on connections (primary, motor or interneurons)
4. Based on axon length (type 1 neurons = projection neurons), (type 2 neurons =local
circuit neurons)
5. Based on gene expression (neurotransmitter differences arise because of differences
in protein expression involved in transmitter synthesis, storage, use)
Other non neuronal cells
, 3 Iris Bakouli - Neurochemistry
Intra/extra cellular fluid
- Water (H2O) is main ingredient for both intracellular/extracellular fluid
- Intracellular fluid → inside neuron
- Extracellular fluid → fluid that bathes neuron (outside)
Ions → electrically charged particles
Electric current → movement of electrical charge
Ionic bond → ions held together by electrical attraction of oppositely charged atoms
- Cations (+) → ions with positive charge
- Anions (-)→ ions with negative charge
Ions important for cellular neurophysiology
- Sodium → Na+ (monovalent cation)
- Potassium → K+ (monovalent cation)
- Calcium → Ca2+ (divalent cation)
- Chloride → Cl- (monovalent anion)
Hydrophilic → water loving, uneven electrically
charged substances dissolve in water because of
water's polarity
Hydrophobic → water fearing, evenly charged
charges substances, on’t dissolve in water
Phospholipid → chemical building blocks of cells, have
a polar head and nonpolar tail
Neuronal membrane → made up of phospholipid
bilayer
Molecules made up of proteins
Basic neuronal anatomy
Basic neuronal anatomy
Neurons → nervous cells
Soma → cell body, contained watery fluid (cytosol), organelles are within soma
In all cells
Organelles
- Rough ER/Ribosomes → protein synthesis sites
- Golgi apparatus → sorts newly synthesised proteins for delivery to locations in neuron
- Mitochondria → cellular respiration and yielding ATP (energy
- Nucleus → spherical, centrally located. Contains chromosomes (DNA(genes))
- Genome → entire length of DNA that comprises genetic information in
chromosomes (25,000 words comprise genome). We now know where genes
can be found on each chromosome.
Membrane → a barrier to enclose cytoplasm and exclude certain substances from entering
Cytoskeleton → microtubules, neurofilaments and microfilaments give the neuron its
characteristic shape
Specific to neurons
Causes of psychiatric disorders
- Gene copy number variations → occurring at level of conception, long dstrschews of
DNA that contain genes are missing or genes are duplicated
- Mutations → topographical eros in a gene that regulate gene expression (proteins can
be abnormal or missing, disrupting nerve function)
Mice are used → in order to delete genes and then study progression of disease with goal of
correcting it
,2 Iris Bakouli - Neurochemistry
Classifying neurons
1. Based on number of neurites (axons and dendrites)
2. Based on dendrites (variable shapes and sizes of spines)
3. Based on connections (primary, motor or interneurons)
4. Based on axon length (type 1 neurons = projection neurons), (type 2 neurons =local
circuit neurons)
5. Based on gene expression (neurotransmitter differences arise because of differences
in protein expression involved in transmitter synthesis, storage, use)
Other non neuronal cells
, 3 Iris Bakouli - Neurochemistry
Intra/extra cellular fluid
- Water (H2O) is main ingredient for both intracellular/extracellular fluid
- Intracellular fluid → inside neuron
- Extracellular fluid → fluid that bathes neuron (outside)
Ions → electrically charged particles
Electric current → movement of electrical charge
Ionic bond → ions held together by electrical attraction of oppositely charged atoms
- Cations (+) → ions with positive charge
- Anions (-)→ ions with negative charge
Ions important for cellular neurophysiology
- Sodium → Na+ (monovalent cation)
- Potassium → K+ (monovalent cation)
- Calcium → Ca2+ (divalent cation)
- Chloride → Cl- (monovalent anion)
Hydrophilic → water loving, uneven electrically
charged substances dissolve in water because of
water's polarity
Hydrophobic → water fearing, evenly charged
charges substances, on’t dissolve in water
Phospholipid → chemical building blocks of cells, have
a polar head and nonpolar tail
Neuronal membrane → made up of phospholipid
bilayer
Molecules made up of proteins
