Module 3 Weekly Note.
Twelve-transmembrane
region transporter
~ 30% of psychotropic drugs
Seven-transmembrane region
G-protein linked
~ 30% of psychotropic drugs
Enzyme
~ 10% of psychotropic drugs
The Five Molecular Targets of Psychotropic Drugs
Four-transmembrane region
ligand-gated ion channel
~ 20% of psychotropic drugs
Six-transmembrane region
voltage-gated ion channel
~ 10% of psychotropic drugs
2-1
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Key ligand-Gated Ion Channels Directly Targeted by Psychotropic Drugs
| Neurotransmitter | Receptor subtype directly targeted | Pharmacological action | Therapeutic action |
| Acetylcholine | α4β2-nicotinic receptors | Partial agonist | Smoking cessation |
| GABA | GABA-A benzodiazepine receptors | Full agonist, phasic inhibition | Anxiolytic |
| GABA-A non-benzodiazepine PAM sites | Full agonist, phasic inhibition | Improves insomnia | |
| GABA-A neurosteroid sites (benzodiazepine insensitive) | Full agonist, tonic inhibition | Post-partum depression Rapid-acting antidepressant Anesthetic | |
| Glutamate | NMDA NAM channels sites/Mg2+ sites | Antagonist | Procognitive in Alzheimer disease |
| NMDA open channel sites | Antagonist | Dissociative hallucinogen Anesthetic Pseudobulbar affect Agitation in Alzheimer disease Rapid-acting antidepressant Treatment-resistant depression | |
| Serotonin | 5HT3 | Antagonist | Procognitive Antidepressant Reduce chemotherapy-induced emesis |
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Ligand-Gated Ion Channels Have a Gatekeeper
3-1
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Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
| Neurotransmitter | Receptor Subtype |
| Acetylcholine | Nicotinic receptors (e.g., α7-nicotinic receptors; α4β2-nicotinic receptors) |
| GABA | GABA-A receptors (e.g., α1 subunits; γ subunits; δ subunits) |
| Glycine | Strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors |
| Serotonin | 5HT3 receptors |
4 Transmembrane Regions, 5 Subunits
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=
3-2A
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=
3-2B
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=
3-2C
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
Tetrameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
| Neurotransmitter | Receptor Subtype |
| Glutamate | AMPA (e.g., GluR1–4 subunits) |
| KAINATE (e.g., GluR5–7, KA1–2 subunits) | |
| NMDA (e.g., NMDAR1, NMDAR2A–D, NMDAR3A subunits) |
3 Transmembrane Regions, 1 Re-entrant Loop, 4 Subunits
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=
3-3A
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=
3-3B
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=
3-3C
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
The Agonist Spectrum
3-4
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
agonist
channel in its resting state in the absence
of agonist
agonist binds to the receptor and the
channel is more frequently open
3-5AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
channel in its resting state
antagonist binds to the receptor, not affecting the frequency of opening of the channel compared to the resting
state of no agonist
antagonist
3-6AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
antagonist
the agonist causes the channel to become
open more frequently
agonist
the antagonist takes over and puts the channel back into the resting state
agonist
antagonist
3-7AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
channel in its resting state
partial
agonist
partial agonist binds to the receptor and
causes it to open more frequently than
the resting state but less frequently
than with a full agonist
3-8AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
channel in its resting state
the full agonist opens the channel
maximally and frequently
the partial agonist
causes the
channel to open
more frequently;
in this case the
partial agonist is
having a net
agonist action
the partial agonist
causes the
channel to open
less frequently;
in this case
the partial agonist is
having a net
antagonistic action
3-9
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
partial
agonist
antagonist
partial agonist binds to the receptor and
causes it to open more frequently than
the resting state but less frequently
than with a full agonist
the antagonist causes the channel
to return to baseline
antagonist
3-10AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
channel in its resting state
inverse agonist
channel closed
the inverse agonist causes the channel to open very infrequently and eventually stabilizes it in an inactive state
channel closed
and inactivated
3-11AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
antagonist
the inverse agonist causes the channel
to stabilize in an inactive form
inverse agonist
the antagonist returns the channel
to the resting state
antagonist
3-12AB
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.
resting state stabilized
by antagonist
resting state
inactivated state possibly reversed
immediately by an antagonist
closed state caused
by inverse agonist
3-13
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channel in
resting state
channel open
channel closed
channel desensitized
channel inactivated
3-14
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desensitized state
activated by prolonged agonist
open state
activated by acute agonist
resting state
inactivated state
not immediately reversed by
removal of agonist
order of hours
order of hours
3-15
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binding site
within
membrane
neurotransmitter
PAM
+
When a neurotransmitter binds to receptors making up an ion channel, the channel
opens more frequently. However, when BOTH the neurotransmitter and a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) are bound to the receptor, the channel opens much more frequently, allowing more ions into the cell.
3-16
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neurotransmitter
NAM
-
When a neurotransmitter binds to receptors making up an ion channel, the channel
opens more frequently. However, when BOTH the neurotransmitter and a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) are bound to the receptor, the channel opens much less frequently, allowing fewer ions into the cell.
3-17
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Ionic Components of an Action Potential
Na+
Ca++
K+
3-18
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voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC)
voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC)
outside the cell
inside the cell
Na+
Ca++
3-19
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Four Subunits Combine to Form the Alpha Pore Subunit, or Channel,
for Sodium of a VSSC (Voltage-Sensitive Sodium Channel)
outside the cell
inside the cell
pore inactivation
pore inactivation
outside the cell
inside the cell
outside the cell
inside the cell
pore inactivation
Na+
=
3-20
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Three States of a Voltage-Sensitive Sodium Channel (VSSC)
closed and inactivated
inactivated
open
3-21
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Four Subunits Combine to Form the Alpha Pore Subunit, or Channel,
for Calcium of a VSCC (Voltage-Sensitive Calcium Channel)
outside the cell
inside the cell
snare
outside the cell
inside the cell
Ca++
=
outside the cell
inside the cell
3-22
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Opening a Presynaptic Voltage-Sensitive N or P/Q
Calcium Channel: Triggers Neurotransmitter Release
glutamate
vesicle
snare
Ca++
3-23
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Docking of Synaptic Vesicle with Presynaptic Membrane,
VSCC (Voltage-Sensitive Calcium Channel,) and Snare Proteins
3-24
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Summary: From Presynaptic to Postsynaptic Signal Propagation
reception
integration
chemical encoding
electrical encoding
signal propagation
presynaptic signal transduction
postsynaptic signal transduction
reception
integration
chemical encoding
signal propagation
signal propagation
presynaptic signal transduction
3-25
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VSSC
VSCC
neurotransmitter
vesicle
Na++
action potential
3-26
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VSSC
Ca++
VSCC
3-26
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Subtypes of Voltage-Sensitive Calcium Channels (VSCCs)
| Type | Pore-forming subunit | Location | Function |
| L | Cav 1.2, 1.3 | Cell bodies, dendrites | Gene expression, synaptic integration |
| N | Cav 2.2 | Nerve terminals Dendrites, cell bodies | Transmitter release Synaptic integration |
| P/Q | Cav 2.1 | Nerve terminals Dendrites, cell bodies | Transmitter release Synaptic integration |
| R | Cav 2.3 | Nerve terminals Cell bodies, dendrites | Transmitter release Repetitive firing, synaptic integration |
| T | Cav 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 | Cell bodies, dendrites | Pacemaking, repetitive firing, synaptic integration |
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, 2021, copyright NEI. All rights reserved.