Amino acid neurotransmitter


An amino acid neurotransmitter is an amino acid which is able to transmit a nerve message across a synapse. Neurotransmitters are packaged into vesicles that cluster beneath the axon terminal membrane on the presynaptic side of a synapse in a process called endocytosis.
Amino acid neurotransmitter release is dependent upon calcium Ca2+ and is a presynaptic response.

Types

Excitatory amino acids will activate post-synaptic cells. inhibitory amino acids depress the activity of post-synaptic cells.
Amino acidExcitatory or inhibitory
Aspartic acidExcitatory
β-alanineInhibitory
CysteineExcitatory
GABA Inhibitory ; excitatory
GlycineInhibitory
Glutamic acidExcitatory
HomocysteineExcitatory
TaurineInhibitory