Biological signalling Flashcards
(42 cards)
what are signals
- represent information that is detected by specific receotors
- Signals are converted to a cellular response which always involves a chemical process
-
what is signal transduction
Conversion of information into chemical change
what is specificity
- singal molecule fits binding site on its complementary receptor; other signlas do not fit
* Multicellular organisms have additional specificity: Some receptors are present in only certain cell types

what are the 3 factors accounting for sensitivity of signal transducers
- High affinity of receptors for signal molecules (Kd = 10-10 M)
**small [L] → large activation response (only need tiny amount bc hugre affinity)
- Cooperativity in the ligand-receptor interaction
- Once activated, signal amplification occurs through by enzyme cascades
explain amplification
Amplifications of several orders of magnitude within milliseconds = FAST RESPONSE
*one signalling molecule bidns to one receptor, receptor then activate then can activate other things)
- amplification= when enzymes activate enzymes, the number of affected molecules increases geometricaly in an enzyme cascade

what is modularity
- proteins with multivalent affinities from diverse signalling compleses from interchangable aprts
- phosphorylation provides reversible points of interaction

explain desensitization/adaptation
- receptor activation triggers a feedback circuit that shuts off the receptor or removes it from the cell surface
- When stimulus falls below a certain threshold the system again becomes sensitive

explain integration of signas
- when two signals have opposite efects on a metabolic characteristic such as the concentration of a second messengerX or the mebrane potential Vm the regualtory outcome results from the integrated input from both receptors
- Integration produces a unified response appropriate to the needs of the cell or organism

what is a G protein coupled recpetor
- external ligand [L] binding to receptor [r] activates an intracellular GTP bidning protein (G)
- this regualtes an enzyme that generates an intracellular second messanger
- ligand bidning usually causes confomrational change
-

what are receptor tyrosine kinases
0 integral mem rptoin on plasma memrbane
- ligand binds and activates tyrsoine kinase activity by autophosphorylation
*RTK become an active kinase itself

what are receptor guanylyl cyclase
- ligand binding to extracellular domain stimulates formation of second messenger cyclic GMP

what are gated ion channels
- open or close in resonde to concentration of signal ligand or memrbane protential
what is an adhesion receptor
- integrin
- binds molecules in extracellular matrixm changes conformation altering interaction with cytoskeleton
*if cell wants to move thru environment must removed the cytoskeleton, so you have integrin recpetors that can bind and interact with components of ECM leading to cahnges in shape of the cell
what are nuclear recetors
- hormone bidning allows the receptor to regulate the expression of specific genes

ion gradients in neurons and transmission of a nerve impulse
- Neuron cytosol has high [K+] and low [Na+]
- At rest, ΔΨ = -60 mV
Transmission of a Nerve Impulse
(i) action potential carries electrical signal down axon
(ii) neurotransmitter carries signal to next cell
explain Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AchR)
- Passage of electrical signal from motor neuron to muscle fiber at neuromuscular junction
- Acetylcholine released by motor neuron diffuses to plasma membrane of a myocyte → binds AchR
• Conformational change in AchR → opens
→ inward movement of cations (Na+, Ca2+)
→ triggers muscle contraction
explain ion gradeints in neural transmission
*ensures that even if second signal comes wont be effected unit mem prot back to normal
Acetylcholine (Ach) opens Ach receptors (ligand-gated Na+/Ca2+ channel)
- Na+ flows in (down gradient): depolarization
Adjacent voltage-gated Na+ channels open: Na+ rushesin→ ΔΨ=+30mV (<1msec)
Na+ channels inactivated; voltage-gated K+ channels open
K+ flows out (down gradient): ΔΨ = -75 mV (2 msec)
K+ channels inactivated, ΔΨ = -60 mV (3 msec)
Wave of de-/re-polarization travels along axon
explain action potential
- originally -60 (polarized)
- Na comes in goes to +30 (depolarized)
- K channels open and K goes out, -75 (hyperpolarized)
back to polarized

explain neural transmission
SNARE-regulated exocytosis releases neurotransmitter into synaptic cleft
1) wave of depolarization
- tons of voltage geted calcium channels at synpatic cleft, once wave of depolarz=iation comes the channels open and Ca comes into presynaptic terminal
- vesicles fuse and neurotransmitter is relseased into the synpatic cleft
- neurotransmitter goes to receptor on post synpatic neuron

structure of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
- alpha helices called M2 amphipathic helices: surround channel
- AchR has 5 subunits with 4 helices in each
- 2 acetylcholine bidning sites on outside

how is the acetyl choline receptor activated
- activated by rotating its subunits
- takes 2 ach to bind causing conformational change and subunit rotates
- bulky hydrophobic leu side chains of M2 helices close the channel
- bindign fo two acetylchlone molecules causes twisting of the M2 helices
- M2 helices now have smaller polar residues lining the channel

what signals are transduced by Heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
- glucagon, histamines, melatonin, light, cannabinoids, epinephrine, opioids, oxytocin, serotonin and odorants
what are the 3 components of Heterotrimeric GPCR signaling, what seconadary messangers does it include
consists of 3 compoennts
- Plasma membrane receptor with 7 transmembrane helices
e. g. epinephrine receptor - Heterotrimericguanosinenucleotide-binding protein (G protein)
- Intracellular enzyme that generates a 2nd messenger
Second messagers include:
- cAMP, cGMP, inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3)
how to turn off/on g proteins (basic)
- g protin are inactive when bound to GDP
- use GTP-GDP exchange factors which pop out GDP and put in GTP
- this activates the protein
*not a phosphorylation event to activate, but the deactivation is a dephosphorylation event
- g proteins have intrinisc ability to dephosphorylate
- to turn it off, dephosphorylate the GTP to GDP (intrinsic GTPase activity), GAP and RGS faciliate the dephosphorylation












