Flashcards: Neurotransmitters

A catecholamine (/kætəˈkoʊləmin/) (CA) is a monoamine, an organic compound that has a catechol (benzene with two hydroxyl side groups at carbons 1 and 2) and a side-chain amine.

γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), also known as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter and a psychoactive drug.

L-Monoamine oxidases (MAO) (EC 1.4.3.4) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of monoamines.

Glutamic acid (abbreviated as Glu or E; encoded by the codons GAA or GAG) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins.

Dynorphins (Dyn) are a class of opioid peptides that arise from the precursor protein prodynorphin.

Tachykinin peptides are one of the largest families of neuropeptides, found from amphibians to mammals.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleoside triphosphate, a small molecule used in cells as a coenzyme.

Aspartic acid (abbreviated as Asp or D; encoded by the codons [GAU and GAC]), also known as aspartate, is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins.

Epinephrine, also known as adrenalin or adrenaline, is primarily a medication and a hormone.

Glycine (abbreviated as Gly or G) is the amino acid which has hydrogen as its side chain.

Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter.

Nitric oxide (nitrogen oxide, nitrogen monoxide) is a molecular, chemical compound with chemical formula of ·NO.

Orexin, also called hypocretin, is a neuropeptide that regulates arousal, wakefulness, and appetite.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (γ-Aminobutyric acid) /ˈɡæmə əˈmiːnoʊbjuːˈtɪrᵻk ˈæsᵻd/ (also called GABA /ˈɡæbə/ for short) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.

Anandamide, also known as N-arachidonoylethanolamine or AEA, is a fatty acid neurotransmitter derived from the non-oxidative metabolism of eicosatetraenoic acid (arachidonic acid) an essential ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Substance P (SP) is an undecapeptide (a peptide composed of a chain of 11 amino acid residues) member of the tachykinin neuropeptide family.

Adenosine pyrophosphate (APP) (Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)) is an important organic compound in metabolism and is essential to the flow of energy in living cells.

Adenosine monophosphate (AMP), also known as 5'-adenylic acid, is a nucleotide that is used as a monomer in RNA.

Endorphins (contracted from "endogenous morphine") are endogenous opioid neuropeptides in humans and other animals.

Neurotransmitters, also known as chemical messengers, are endogenous chemicals that enable neurotransmission.

Oxytocin (Oxt) is a hormone, neuropeptide, and medication.

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), also known as N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate peptidase I (NAALADase I), NAAG peptidase, or prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FOLH1 (folate hydrolase 1) gene.

Glutathione (GSH) is an important antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea.

N-Acetylaspartylglutamic acid (N-acetylaspartylglutamate or NAAG) is a peptide neurotransmitter and the third-most-prevalent neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system.

Ketobemidone (Cliradon, Ketogan, Ketodur, Cymidon, Ketorax, &c.) is a powerful opioid analgesic.

Norfenefrine (INN) or meta-octopamine (3-octopamine), also known as 3,β-dihydroxyphenethylamine, is an adrenergic agent used as a sympathomimetic drug which is marketed in Europe, Japan, and Mexico.

S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is an endogenous S-nitrosothiol (SNO) that plays a critical role in nitric oxide (NO) signaling and is a source of bioavailable NO.

Macusine B is an inhibitor of adrenergic alpha-receptors and tryptamine receptors.

N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid or N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is an amino acid derivative that acts as a specific agonist at the NMDA receptor mimicking the action of glutamate, the neurotransmitter which normally acts at that receptor.

Agmatine, also known as (4-aminobutyl)guanidine, is an aminoguanidine that was discovered in 1910 by Albrecht Kossel.

Quinolinic acid (abbreviated QUIN or QA), also known as pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, is a dicarboxylic acid with a pyridine backbone.

Stearoylethanolamide (SEA) is an endocannabinoid neurotransmitter.

Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), or L-α-lysophosphatidylinositol, is an endogenous lysophospholipid and endocannabinoid neurotransmitter.

Docosatetraenoylethanolamide (DEA) is an endogenous ethanolamide that has been shown to act on the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endocannabinoid, an endogenous agonist of the CB1 receptor.

γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) (brand names Gamibetal, Gabomade, Aminoxan, Bogil, Diastal, Gabimex, Gaboril, Kolpo), or β-hydroxy-γ-aminobutyric acid (β-hydroxy-GABA), is an anticonvulsant which is used for the treatment of epilepsy in Europe, Japan, and Mexico.

Eledoisin is an undecapeptide of mollusk origin, belonging to the tachykinin family of neuropeptides.

Amidorphin is an endogenous, C-terminally amidated, opioid peptide generated as a cleavage product of proenkephalin A that is widely distributed in the mammalian brain, with particularly high concentrations found in the adrenal medulla, posterior pituitary, and striatum.

Glutathione disulfide (GSSG) is a disulfide derived from two glutathione molecules.

Oleoylethanolamine (OEA) is an endogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) agonist.

trans-4-Hydroxycrotonic acid (T-HCA), also known as γ-hydroxycrotonic acid (GHC), is an agent used in scientific research to study the GHB receptor.

Adrenorphin, also sometimes referred to as metorphamide, is an endogenous, C-terminally amidated, opioid octapeptide (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2) that is produced from proteolytic cleavage of proenkephalin A and is widely distributed throughout the mammalian brain.

6-Hydroxymelatonin (6-OHM) is a naturally-occurring, endogenous, major active metabolite of the neurotransmitter melatonin.