(no subject)
to compensate for my feelings of stupidity for falling off my bike (in front of a lot of construction workers, which aggravated the egotistical insult of it all) i have decided to post this SINGLE powerpoint slide that will be covered in my cell physiology midterm, tomorrow:
"ARACHIDONIC ACID METABOLITES:
The eicosanoids are a family of biologically active metabolites produced from the membrane phospholipid, arachiconic acid. They include cyclic endoperoxides, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Eicosanoids have powerful biological activities including effects on allergic and inflammatory processes, platelet aggregation, vascular smooth muscle, and gastric acid secretion.
The primary pathway involves activation of a membrane receptor (hormone, neurotransmitter, paracrine agent, drug or toxic agent) that activates phospholipase A2 through G-protein or an increase in intracellular calcium concentration. PLA2 releases arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids. Arachidonic acid is metabolized by two pathways.
The first pathway is mediated by cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and produces the cyclic endoperoxides, prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Note: it is this pathway that is inhibited by aspirin and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
The second pathway is mediated by lipoxygenase producing leukotrienes. In a particular cell beyond PLA2, the presence of the appropriate enzymes determines the pathways and products that will result from receptor activation.
The eicosanoids are not stored but are released immediately and act locally as paracrine or autocrine effectors. "
that's ONE slide... out of about 120 that i have to basically memorize by 7:15 am tomorrow. fiiine, i picked one of the most complicated ones, but still. i miss undergrad classes.... anyways, if you're science-minded, you'll have interpreted the above excerpt as an explanation as how aspirin works. now i know exactly how i will biochemically kill myself when i swallow the contents of a 1000-count bottle of aspirin to forever alleviate my brain pain
"ARACHIDONIC ACID METABOLITES:
The eicosanoids are a family of biologically active metabolites produced from the membrane phospholipid, arachiconic acid. They include cyclic endoperoxides, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Eicosanoids have powerful biological activities including effects on allergic and inflammatory processes, platelet aggregation, vascular smooth muscle, and gastric acid secretion.
The primary pathway involves activation of a membrane receptor (hormone, neurotransmitter, paracrine agent, drug or toxic agent) that activates phospholipase A2 through G-protein or an increase in intracellular calcium concentration. PLA2 releases arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids. Arachidonic acid is metabolized by two pathways.
The first pathway is mediated by cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and produces the cyclic endoperoxides, prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Note: it is this pathway that is inhibited by aspirin and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
The second pathway is mediated by lipoxygenase producing leukotrienes. In a particular cell beyond PLA2, the presence of the appropriate enzymes determines the pathways and products that will result from receptor activation.
The eicosanoids are not stored but are released immediately and act locally as paracrine or autocrine effectors. "
that's ONE slide... out of about 120 that i have to basically memorize by 7:15 am tomorrow. fiiine, i picked one of the most complicated ones, but still. i miss undergrad classes.... anyways, if you're science-minded, you'll have interpreted the above excerpt as an explanation as how aspirin works. now i know exactly how i will biochemically kill myself when i swallow the contents of a 1000-count bottle of aspirin to forever alleviate my brain pain