Bio 1002B - Cycle 9 - Genetics of
Cancer and Other Diseases Questions
And Answers.
Alzheimer's Disease - Answer Progressive and fatal
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Loss of neurons
- Most common cause of dementia
- Loss of memories and cognitive function
- Starts in hippocampus and spreads outwards
Neurons - Answer
Neurons - Dendrites - Answer receive signals from surrounding neurons
Neurons - Soma - Answer cell body w/ organelles
Neurons - Axon - Answer long extension of the cell, ends in synaptic terminal, sends out
electrical signals
Neurons - Synaptic Cleft - Answer gap where presynaptic neuron axon terminals meet
postsynaptic neuron dendrites.
Neurons - Microtubules - Answer essential for nutrient transport and structural support.
Stabilized by tau proteins.
Decreased acetylcholine production - Cholinergic neurons release... - Answer a
neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.
Decreased acetylcholine production - Synthesis is done by... - Answer choline acetyl
transferase
Decreased acetylcholine production- degradation is done by... - Answer acetylcholinesterase
Binding of acetylcholine to the postsynaptic receptor is.... - Answer important for initiating a
signal cascade.
, AD patients have... - Answer abnormally low levels of acetylcholine.
What would be a good drug target to treat AD? - Answer Acetylcholinesterase
Rivastigmine - Answer - Inhibits acetylcholinesterase so that acetylcholine is degraded less
frequently
- Acetylcholine is active longer
Amyloid Beta Plaques - Alpha-Sectretase - Answer Soluble, small peptides
- Dominant pathway under normal conditions.
Amyloid Beta Plaques - Beta-Sectretase - Answer Large, insoluble peptides
- Minor pathway normally
- Must be cleared by microglia, astrocytes, and apolipoprotein E
How do amyloid beta plaques cause brain deterioration? - Answer Excessive release of toxic
cytokines → inflammatory response → neuron loss
● Overactivation of microglial cells and astrocytes → build-up of glutamate →
neuron damage
● Crowd synaptic clefts → block receptors → decreased communication between neurons
NMDA Antagonists - Answer Inhibit NMDA receptors on the postsynaptic neuron so that
excess glutamate has no effect on neurons. Relieves symptoms, but does not cure the disease.
Neurofibrillary Tangles - Answer Twisted protein fibers that form within certain brain cells as
people age. People with Alzheimer's disease have an excessive number of such tangles.
Genetic Risks - Down Syndrome - Answer Extra APP gene on extra chromosome 21
Genetic Risks - Presenilin 1 and 2 - Answer Autosomal dominant inheritance
- Catalytic region of gamma secretase favours large peptide formation
Genetic Risks - ApoE4 - Answer Less effective at removing amyloid
aggregates
Cancer and Other Diseases Questions
And Answers.
Alzheimer's Disease - Answer Progressive and fatal
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Loss of neurons
- Most common cause of dementia
- Loss of memories and cognitive function
- Starts in hippocampus and spreads outwards
Neurons - Answer
Neurons - Dendrites - Answer receive signals from surrounding neurons
Neurons - Soma - Answer cell body w/ organelles
Neurons - Axon - Answer long extension of the cell, ends in synaptic terminal, sends out
electrical signals
Neurons - Synaptic Cleft - Answer gap where presynaptic neuron axon terminals meet
postsynaptic neuron dendrites.
Neurons - Microtubules - Answer essential for nutrient transport and structural support.
Stabilized by tau proteins.
Decreased acetylcholine production - Cholinergic neurons release... - Answer a
neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.
Decreased acetylcholine production - Synthesis is done by... - Answer choline acetyl
transferase
Decreased acetylcholine production- degradation is done by... - Answer acetylcholinesterase
Binding of acetylcholine to the postsynaptic receptor is.... - Answer important for initiating a
signal cascade.
, AD patients have... - Answer abnormally low levels of acetylcholine.
What would be a good drug target to treat AD? - Answer Acetylcholinesterase
Rivastigmine - Answer - Inhibits acetylcholinesterase so that acetylcholine is degraded less
frequently
- Acetylcholine is active longer
Amyloid Beta Plaques - Alpha-Sectretase - Answer Soluble, small peptides
- Dominant pathway under normal conditions.
Amyloid Beta Plaques - Beta-Sectretase - Answer Large, insoluble peptides
- Minor pathway normally
- Must be cleared by microglia, astrocytes, and apolipoprotein E
How do amyloid beta plaques cause brain deterioration? - Answer Excessive release of toxic
cytokines → inflammatory response → neuron loss
● Overactivation of microglial cells and astrocytes → build-up of glutamate →
neuron damage
● Crowd synaptic clefts → block receptors → decreased communication between neurons
NMDA Antagonists - Answer Inhibit NMDA receptors on the postsynaptic neuron so that
excess glutamate has no effect on neurons. Relieves symptoms, but does not cure the disease.
Neurofibrillary Tangles - Answer Twisted protein fibers that form within certain brain cells as
people age. People with Alzheimer's disease have an excessive number of such tangles.
Genetic Risks - Down Syndrome - Answer Extra APP gene on extra chromosome 21
Genetic Risks - Presenilin 1 and 2 - Answer Autosomal dominant inheritance
- Catalytic region of gamma secretase favours large peptide formation
Genetic Risks - ApoE4 - Answer Less effective at removing amyloid
aggregates
