Foundational neuroscience discussion essay examples Week 1 Discussion: Initial Post Foundational Neuroscience Agonist to antagonist spectrum of action of psychopharmacologic agents

Agonist of psychopharmacologic agents binds to neurotransmitter and caused an activation of receptors; whereas, antagonist agents then binds to those receptors that are activated by agonists, thus preventing them from being in an inactivated state; thus, causing them to be in the state that is desirable (Stahl, 2013). One such example can be seen from the neurotransmitter receptors dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Foundational neuroscience discussion essay examples.

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G-protein is a protein that binds energy molecules, they are the biggest and most versatile of proteins, their job is to activate intracellular action by signaling pathways and modulate activities of ion channel (Gohar, 2018). Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes and then divide them into groups according to their specificity, some of which includes sodium channels, potassium channels and calcium channels (Gohar, 2018).

Ion channel receptors are mostly multimeric proteins that are found in the plasma membrane, they form pathways from one membrane to the next; they are able to open and close chemical and mechanical signals; when these ion channels are in an open site, then they move in and out of the cell, they each have a specific allowing only one ion to pass through (Suitable by Nature, n.d).

G-protein receptors are receptors that interact with neurotransmitters as well as psychotropic medication.  G-protein and ion channel are triggered by neurotransmitters; both starts with a different messenger that binds to a specific receptor that causes activation of different downstream chemical messenger; both G-protein and Ion channels signals transduction; G-protein uses protein kinase, its job is to activate or inactive ion channels or open and close the sequence to regulate ion concentration (Stahl, 2013).

Epigenetics

Epigenetics is described as the formation of genetics that above information coded exclusively by one’s genetic code (Stefanska & MacEwan, 2015).  Epigenetics is a system that determine if there are any gene that is made into RNA and protein specific to that gene, if is silenced; it turns genes on and off by the modification of chromatin structure that is in the cell nucleus (Stahl, 2013).  There are circumstances in which epigenetics pattern of gene activation may change from stabilization  of a silenced gene making it active or an active one, silenced based on what happens to a neuron; where pharmacologic agent can be a factor; it may cause a favorable or unfavorable response; a favorable response can be the good/therapeutic epigenetic effect where one is triggered to learn something or unfavorable effect where one is triggered to e addicted to drugs or develops conditions like anxiety disorder (Stahl, 2013).

How we respond to pharmacological agents can be affected by epigenetics; drugs that are epigenetic may help in drug therapies as well as operations and management of pain (Stefanska & MacEwan, 2015).

An example is how those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is treated; the pharmacological agent that is used to treat it, acts by reducing dopamine levels in the brain; the antagonist of dopamine works by binding the receptors causing a deactivation (Stahl, 2013). Foundational neuroscience discussion essay examples.

References

Gohar, O. (2018). Ion channel modulation by g-protein coupled receptors. Alomone Labs. Retrieved from https://www.alomone.com/article/issue-no-21?cn-reloaded=1

Stefanska, B., & MacEwan, D. J. (2015). Epigenetics and pharmacology. British Journal of Pharmacology, 172(11), 2701–2704. http://doi.org/10.1111/bph.13136

Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press

Suitable by Nature. (n.d.). Ion Channel | Learn science at suitable. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/ion-channel-14047658 Foundational neuroscience discussion essay examples.