Pedro Merino, PhD, holds the Chair in Organic Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza, Spain. His scientific work has been presented in more than 220 papers, various book chapters, and one book. His research interests include chemical biology with particular focus on glycoscience, computational chemistry, asymmetric synthesis and catalysis.

Preface xi

Part I Neurotransmitter Systems 1

1 The Dopaminergic System 3

1.1 Introduction 3

1.2 Dopamine Receptors 5

1.2.1 Classification 5

1.2.2 Location 5

1.2.3 General Structural Considerations 6

1.2.4 Effector Mechanisms 8

1.2.5 Implication in Neurodisorders 9

1.2.6 D₁‐like Receptors 9

1.2.7 D₂‐like Receptors 12

1.3 Vesicular Monoamine Transporter (VMAT) 18

1.4 The Dopamine Transporter (DAT) 21

1.4.1 Structural Aspects 21

1.4.2 Molecular Mechanism 24

References 26

2 The Noradrenergic System 41

2.1 Introduction 41

2.2 Adrenoreceptors 43

2.2.1 Classification 43

2.2.2 Location 44

2.2.3 General Structure Considerations 44

2.2.4 Effector Mechanisms 44

2.2.5 Implication in Neurodisorders 45

2.2.6 α₁‐Adrenoreceptors 46

2.2.7 α₂‐Adrenoreceptors 48

2.2.8 β‐Adrenoreceptors 49

2.3 Neuropeptides Receptors 58

2.3.1 Neuropeptide Y Receptors 58

2.3.2 Galanin Receptors 61

2.4 Norepinephrine Transporter (NET) 63

References 65

3 The Serotonergic System 81

3.1 Introduction 81

3.2 Serotonin Receptors 83

3.2.1 Classification 83

3.2.2 Location 86

3.2.3 General Structural Considerations 86

3.2.4 Effector Mechanism 87

3.2.5 Implication in Neurodisorders 88

3.2.6 5‐HT₁ Receptors 89

3.2.7 5‐HT₂ Receptors 92

3.2.8 5‐HT₃ Receptors 96

3.2.9 5‐HT₄ Receptors 98

3.2.10 5‐HT₅ Receptors 98

3.2.11 5‐HT₆ Receptors 100

3.2.12 5‐HT₇ Receptors 101

3.3 Serotonin Reuptake Transporter (SERT) 102

References 107

4 The Cholinergic System 121

4.1 Introduction 121

4.2 Cholinergic Receptors 123

4.2.1 Classification 123

4.2.2 Location 124

4.2.3 Nicotinic Receptors 125

4.2.3.1 Effector Mechanisms 125

4.2.3.2 Implication in Neurodisorders 126

4.2.3.3 Structure of Subunits 126

4.2.3.4 Structure of Receptors 126

4.2.4 Muscarinic Receptors 132

4.2.4.1 Effector Mechanisms 133

4.2.4.2 Implication in Neurodisorders 134

4.2.4.3 M1 Receptor 134

4.2.4.4 M2 Receptor 135

4.2.4.5 M3 Receptor 135

4.2.4.6 M4 Receptor 139

4.2.4.7 M5 Receptor 141

4.3 Cholinergic Transporters 141

4.3.1 Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter (VAChT) 141

4.3.2 High‐Affinity Choline Transporter (ChT) 143

References 145

5 The Glutamatergic System 155

5.1 Introduction 155

5.2 Glutamate Receptors 157

5.2.1 Classification 157

5.2.2 Ionotropic Receptors 159

5.2.2.1 Location 159

5.2.2.2 Effector Mechanisms 161

5.2.2.3 Implication in Neurodisorders 162

5.2.2.4 NMDA Receptors 162

5.2.2.5 AMPA Receptors 165

5.2.2.6 Kainate Receptors 168

5.2.2.7 Delta Receptors 172

5.2.3 Metabotropic Receptors 173

5.2.3.1 Location 173

5.2.3.2 Effector Mechanisms 174

5.2.3.3 Implication in Neurodisorders 175

5.2.3.4 Structural Features 176

5.3 Glutamate Transporters 184

5.3.1 Implication of Glutamate Transporters in Neurodegeneration 186

5.3.2 Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1 (VGLUT1) 187

5.3.3 Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 2 (VGLUT2) 187

5.3.4 Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 3 (VGLUT3) 187

References 188

6 The GABAergic System 199

6.1 Introduction 199

6.2 GABA Receptors 201

6.2.1 Classification 201

6.2.2 Location 201

6.2.3 Implication in Neurodegenerative Disorders 204

6.2.4 GABA_A Receptors 204

6.2.4.1 Effector Mechanisms 205

6.2.4.2 Structure of Subunits 206

6.2.5 GABA_B Receptors 210

6.2.5.1 Effector Mechanisms 210

6.2.5.2 Structure of Receptors 212

6.3 GABA Transporters 213

6.3.1 Vesicular GABA Transporter (VGAT) 216

6.3.2 Betaine Transporter (BGT1) 216

6.3.3 Sodium‐ and Chloride‐Dependent GABA Transporters (GAT1–3) 216

References 218

Part II Metabolism and Proteins 227

7 Metabolism of Neurotransmitters 229

7.1 Introduction 229

7.2 Metabolism of Catecholamines 229

7.2.1 Dopamine 229

7.2.2 Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) and Epinephrine (Adrenaline) 234

7.3 Metabolism of Serotonin 235

7.4 Metabolism of Acetylcholine 238

7.5 Metabolism of Glutamic Acid and GABA 239

7.5.1 Glutamic Acid 239

7.5.2 γ‐Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) 240

7.5.3 Neurotransmission Mediated by Glutamic Acid and GABA Metabolisms 240

References 242

8 Enzymes Processing Neurotransmitters 249

8.1 Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) 249

8.2 Tryptophan Hydroxylase (Tryptophan‐5‐monoxygenase, TPH)) 252

8.3 Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) 255

8.4 Dopamine β‐Hydroxylase (DBH) 257

8.5 Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) 259

8.6 Catecholamine‐O‐methyl Transferase (COMT) 265

8.7 Phenylethanolamine‐N‐methyl Transferase (PNMT) 270

8.8 5‐Hydroxyindole‐O‐methyltransferase (HIOMT) 272

8.9 Serotonin‐N‐acetyl Transferase (SNAT) 274

8.10 Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) 274

8.11 Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) 276

8.12 Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) 280

8.13 Glutamine Synthetase (GLUL) 281

8.14 GABA Transaminase (GABA‐T) 284

References 286

9 Misfolded Proteins 303

9.1 Introduction 303

9.1.1 Amyloid β (Aβ) 304

9.1.2 Tau (τ) 307

9.1.3 α‐Synuclein 313

References 316

10 Therapeutic Agents for Neurodegenerative Disorders 325

10.1 Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) 325

10.1.1 Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitors 325

10.1.2 Memantine (Namenda^®) 331

10.2 Parkinson’s Disease (PD) 331

10.2.1 l‐DOPA 333

10.2.2 Dopaminergic Agonists 335

10.2.3 MAO‐B Inhibitors 340

10.2.4 COMT Inhibitors 343

10.2.5 Amantadine 344

10.3 Lewy Body Disease (LBD) 345

10.4 Huntington’s Disease (HD) 346

10.5 Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) 346

10.6 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 346

10.7 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) 347

References 347

Index 359

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.