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Molecular neuroscience
Encyclopedia
Molecular neuroscience is a branch of neuroscience
that examines the biology of the nervous system with molecular biology
, molecular genetics
, protein chemistry and related methodologies. Molecular biology studies how deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) forms ribonucleic acid (RNA) which makes protein. When molecular biology is studied to gain understanding of the nervous system
, then this is the basis of molecular neuroscience. Molecular neuroscience studies ion channels, receptors, enzymes to understand neural function. Ionotropic receptors, metabotropic receptors, molecular anatomy, nervous system, neurogentive disease and molecular mechanismsneurotransmitter release, receptor cloning, signal transduction mechanisms, synaptic plasticity response, and voltage gated ion channels are a few of the fields studied by molecular neuroscientists.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
that examines the biology of the nervous system with molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, molecular genetics
Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
, protein chemistry and related methodologies. Molecular biology studies how deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) forms ribonucleic acid (RNA) which makes protein. When molecular biology is studied to gain understanding of the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
, then this is the basis of molecular neuroscience. Molecular neuroscience studies ion channels, receptors, enzymes to understand neural function. Ionotropic receptors, metabotropic receptors, molecular anatomy, nervous system, neurogentive disease and molecular mechanismsneurotransmitter release, receptor cloning, signal transduction mechanisms, synaptic plasticity response, and voltage gated ion channels are a few of the fields studied by molecular neuroscientists.
See also
- Acetylcholine receptorAcetylcholine receptorAn acetylcholine receptor is an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.-Classification:...
- AgrinAgrinAgrin is a large proteoglycan whose best characterised role is in the development of the neuromuscular junction during embryogenesis. Agrin is named based on its involvement in the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors during synaptogenesis. In humans, this protein is encoded by the AGRN...
- ArcArc (protein)Arc, for activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein , is a plasticity protein first characterized in 1995. Arc is a member of the immediate-early gene family, a rapidly activated class of genes functionally defined by their ability to be transcribed in the presence of protein synthesis...
- Beta amyloid
- Chakragati mouseChakragati mouseChakragati mouse is an insertional transgenic mouse mutant displaying hyperactive behaviour and circling. It is also deficient in prepulse inhibition, latent inhibition and has brain abnormalities such as lateral ventricular enlargement that are typical to endophenotypic models of schizophrenia,...
- Cys-loop receptorsCys-loop receptorsThe Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel superfamily is composed of nicotinic acetylcholine, GABAA, GABAA-ρ, glycine and 5-HT3 receptors that are composed of five protein subunits that form a pentameric arrangement around a central pore. There are usually 2 alpha subunits and 3 other beta, gamma, or...
- DAB1DAB1The Disabled-1 gene encodes a key regulator of Reelin signaling. Reelin is a large glycoprotein secreted by neurons of the developing brain, particularly Cajal-Retzius cells. DAB1 functions downstream of Reln in a signaling pathway...
- Fruitless (gene)Fruitless (gene)The fruitless gene is a Drosophila melanogaster gene that encodes several variants of a putative transcription factor protein. Normal fruitless function is required for proper development of several anatomical structures necessary for courtship, including motor neurons which innervate muscles...
- GAB2GAB2GRB2-associated-binding protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GAB2 gene.The protein encoded by this gene, GAB2 is an adaptor protein serving as principal activator of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase...
- Glutamate carboxypeptidase IIGlutamate carboxypeptidase IIGlutamate carboxypeptidase II , also known as N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate peptidase I , NAAG peptidase, or Prostate specific membrane antigen is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FOLH1 gene...
- Glutamate decarboxylaseGlutamate decarboxylaseGlutamate decarboxylase or glutamic acid decarboxylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of glutamate to GABA and CO2. GAD uses PLP as a cofactor. The reaction proceeds as follows:...
- HAR1FHAR1FIn molecular biology, Human accelerated region 1 is a segment of the human genome found on the long arm of chromosome 20. It is a Human accelerated region...
- Ionotropic effectIonotropic effectAn ionotropic effect is a special kind of effect of a hormone on its target. The hormone activates or deactivates ionotropic receptors . The effect can be either positive or negative, whether the effect is a depolarization or a hyperpolarization respectively.-Examples:Noradrenaline An ionotropic...
- Ligand-gated ion channelLigand-gated ion channelLigand-gated ion channels are one type of ionotropic receptor or channel-linked receptor. They are a group of transmembrane ion channels that are opened or closed in response to the binding of a chemical messenger , such as a neurotransmitter.The binding site of endogenous ligands on LGICs...
- Memory RNAMemory RNAMemory RNA is a now-discredited hypothetical form of RNA that was proposed by James V. McConnell and others as a means of explaining how long-term memories were stored in the brain...
- Molecular cellular cognitionMolecular cellular cognitionMolecular cellular cognition is that branch of neuroscience that involves the study of cognitive processes with approaches that integrate molecular, cellular and behavioral mechanisms...
- NMDA receptorNMDA receptorThe NMDA receptor , a glutamate receptor, is the predominant molecular device for controlling synaptic plasticity and memory function....
- NPAS3NPAS3NPAS3 or Neuronal PAS domain protein 3 is a brain-enriched transcription factor belonging to the bHLH-PAS superfamily of transcription factors, the members of which carry out diverse functions, including circadian oscillations, neurogenesis, toxin metabolism, hypoxia, and tracheal development...
- NeurotransmitterNeurotransmitterNeurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. Neurotransmitters are packaged into synaptic vesicles clustered beneath the membrane on the presynaptic side of a synapse, and are released into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to...
- Non-noradrenergic, non-cholinergic transmitterNon-noradrenergic, non-cholinergic transmitterA non-noradrenergic, non-cholinergic transmitter is a neurotransmitter of the peripheral nervous system that is neither of the main two PNS transmitters, i.e. noradrenaline and acetylcholine.-Comparison table:...
- Postsynaptic densityPostsynaptic densityThe postsynaptic density is a protein dense specialization attached to the postsynaptic membrane. PSDs were originally identified by electron microscopy as an electron-dense region at the membrane of a postsynaptic neuron...
- ReelerReelerA reeler is a mouse mutant, so named because of its characteristic "reeling" gait. This is caused by profound hypoplasia of the mouse's cerebellum, in which the normal cerebellar folia are missing. The mutation is autosomal and recessive....
- ReelinReelinReelin is a large secreted extracellular matrix protein that helps regulate processes of neuronal migration and positioning in the developing brain by controlling cell–cell interactions. Besides this important role in early development, reelin continues to work in the adult brain. It modulates the...
- Shaking rat Kawasaki
- SynapsinSynapsinThe synapsins are a family of proteins that have long been implicated in the regulation of neurotransmitter release at synapses. Specifically, they are thought to be involved in regulating the number of synaptic vesicles available for release via exocytosis at any one time.Current studies suggest...
- Tachykinin receptorTachykinin receptorThere are three known mammalian tachykinin receptors termed NK1, NK2 and NK3. All are members of the 7 transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor family and induce the activation of phospholipase C, producing inositol triphosphate ....
- Tachykinin receptor 1Tachykinin receptor 1The tachykinin receptor 1 also known as neurokinin 1 receptor or substance P receptor is a G protein coupled receptor found in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. The endogenous ligand for this receptor is Substance P, although it has some affinity for other tachykinins...
- Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 is a deubiqutinating enzyme.-Pathology:A point mutation in the gene encoding this protein is implicated as the cause of Parkinson's disease in one kindred....
- VMAT1VMAT1VMAT1 is a protein that transports the monoamines into intracellular vesicles.In chromaffin cells, it is responsible for transporting newly synthesized epinephrine from the cytosol back into chromaffin granules in preparation for release.For norepinephrine to be acted upon by PNMT in the cytosol,...
- VMAT2VMAT2The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 also known as solute carrier family 18 member 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC18A2 gene...
- YotariYotariThe yotari mouse is an autosomal recessive mutant. It has a mutated disabled homolog 1 gene. This mutant mouse is recognized by unstable gait and tremor and by early deaths around the time of weaning. The cytoarchitectures of cerebellar and cerebral cortices and hippocampal formation of the...
- Zif268Zif268EGR-1 also known as Zif268 or NGFI-A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EGR1 gene....