Question

A new disease has been discovered in which neurons are not firing correctly due to a high levels of an esterase in the postsynaptic cleft. What signal is this esterase disrupting and what would normally happen if the esterase was not present in high amounts ?

Answer 1

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine is break down into acetyl group and choline in the synaptic cleft is done by means of esterase enzyme. The esterase breaks down acetylcholine. Hence there is found less number of acetylcholine in the synapse. Hence there is found less binding of this neurotransmitter to the receptor present on post synaptic membrane. When there is found higher level of esterase, then it will break down more numbet of acetylcholine. Hence the acetylcholine can not bind to its receptor. That's why the nerve impulse is not transmitted to the post synaptic neuron.

If the esterase is in normal amount, then acetylcohline binds to the receptor. It will lead to transmit the impules in post neuron. After that acetylcholine is break down into acetyl group and choline. These are transferred to the presynaptic membrane for new synthesis of acetylcholine.