How a Neuropeptide Is Made & Released

Step through the 6 stages — from gene to brain signal

CELL BODY (SOMA) AXON SYNAPSE DNA ER Golgi CLEFT NEXT NEURON NT: fast, narrow, reuptake
STAGE 1 OF 6
Blueprint — Gene Transcription
Inside the neuron's nucleus, a gene is read and transcribed into a large, inactive precursor called a prepropeptide. Think of it as a rough draft that still needs heavy editing.

Neuropeptide vs. Classical Neurotransmitter

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Classical Neurotransmitter

  • Made locally at the axon terminal
  • Stored in small, clear vesicles
  • Released instantly on a single impulse
  • Acts on one tight synapse
  • Signal lasts milliseconds
  • Quickly recycled via reuptake

Neuropeptide

  • Built in the cell body from a gene
  • Stored in large, dense-core vesicles
  • Released only after strong, repeated firing
  • Diffuses widely beyond one synapse
  • Signal lasts seconds to minutes
  • Broken down slowly by enzymes