G. An explanation of the Genetic Code: DNA is a two-stranded molecule. Each strand is a polynucleotide composed of A (adenosine), T (thymidine), C (cytidine), and G (guanosine) residues polymerized by dehydration synthesis in linear chains with specific sequences.
Note: There are more than two types of epinephrine receptors on smooth muscle cells, so epinephrine may affect smooth muscle in other tissues in other ways. (There are subtypes of alpha and subtypes of beta.) * Details of how PLC generates IP3 are on handout 12A. We will go over this later.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine bind to either an alpha or a beta adrenergic receptor to carry out its function. Alpha receptors are responsible for smooth muscle contractions and neurotransmitter inhibition, while beta receptors relax smooth muscles and contract the heart muscle.