Molecular Pharmacology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Describe various methods that are used for receptor cloning and expression. Outline the molecular features that are responsible for agonist and antagonist binding, and coupling to effector processes, with reference to GPCRs.
• Use Scatchard, Cheng-Prussof and Hill equations to analyse drug-receptor interactions.
• Describe the properties of different classes of neurotransmitter transport proteins. Outline current knowledge of the molecular and structural aspects of different classes of neurotransmitter transport proteins.
• Describe the general principles and methodology of ligand binding techniques and their application to the study of the molecular pharmacology of receptors. In particular, students should understand the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.
• Review current knowledge of the subunit composition of excitatory amino acid and GABA receptors. To give a structural basis for the physiological and pharmacological properties of the different receptor types found in vertebrate neurons.
• Outline the functional importance of dopamine in the mammalian central nervous system. To describe the biochemical and radio-ligand binding approaches that led to the sub-classification of dopamine receptors. To describe the more recent cloning of dopamine receptor subtypes and the evidence that the subtypes may play discrete roles in the mammalian brain.

The module is concerned with a detailed study of the mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level by application of biochemical and molecular biological techniques. Receptor binding, isolation and the application of molecular cloning methods are surveyed. Detailed examples will examine the molecular details of muscarinic, adrenergic, dopaminergic and excitatory amino acid receptors, neurotransmitter transporters and voltage-gated ion channels.

Lectures. Students are strongly encouraged to attempt previous year’s quantitative questions and to submit these for comments and feedback.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.