5 - Second Messengers and Effectors Regulate your Metabolism Flashcards
What are some examples of 2nd messengers and kinase cascades?
PLC+PIP2+PKC, cAMP+PKA, and calcium signaling
What are some examples of signal transducers?
GPCRs, RTKs, RGCs, gated ion channels, nuclear receptors, and integrins
How do GPCRs work?
A ligand binds to a receptor, which activates a G-protein
How do RTKs work?
Ligand binding activates tyrosine kinase activity (autophosphorylation)
How do RGCs work?
Ligand binding stimulates formation of cGMP from GTP
How do gated ion channels work?
Open or close in response to ligand or membrane potential
How do nuclear receptors work?
Steroid binding allows the receptor to regulate gene expression
How do integrins work?
Binds molecules to ECM, altering interaction with cytoskeleton
What does RTK stand for?
Receptor tyrosine kinase
What does RGC stand for?
Receptor guanylyl cyclase
How is integration seen in 2nd messenger signaling?
Effectors can converge on one part of the cascade
How is divergence seen in 2nd messenger signaling?
One effector can affect different proteins in the cascade
What is the purpose of scaffolds?
Tether responses together for a rapid and specific response
How do scaffolds increase specificity and speed?
All the components in the cascade are localized together (no diffusion needed)
What is a linear signaling pathway?
Receptors, transducers, and effectors are in a linear pattern (no crosstalk)
What is a convergent signaling pathway?
There is integration between the receptors, transducers, and effectors
What is a divergent signaling pathway?
There are multiple impacts to the transducers and/or effectors based on one receptor (or another component)
What is a multiply branched signaling pathway?
Lots of crosstalk (convergence, divergence) between the different systems
Which type of signaling pathway most accurately describes the cell?
Multiply branched signaling pathway
True or false: effectors cannot affect transducers or receptors
False: regulation can occur based on these interactions
How can scaffolds form at a receptor?
Scaffold complex, assembly on receptor, and assembly on phosphoinositide docking sites
What does “scaffold complex” refer to (in terms of scaffolds)?
A complex can bind to the receptor, having the transducers localized for a specific signaling pathway
What does “assembly on receptor” refer to (in terms of scaffolds)?
Once a receptor is activated, soluble proteins can dock on phosphorylation sites, and then transmit downstream signals
What does “assembly on phosphoinositide docking sites” refer to (in terms of scaffolds)?
Once a receptor is activated, phosphate groups can be added to phosphoinositides to be used as docking sites for other relay proteins
True or false: there are a large number of extracellular receptor ligands (first messengers)
True: there are many different types
True or false: there are a large number of intracellular signaling molecules (second messengers)
False: there is only a handful
How many major second messengers are found in animal cells?
6
What are the 6 major second messengers found in animal cells?
cAMP, cGMP, DAG, IP3, calcium, and phosphoinositides
What does DAG stand for?
1,2-diacylglycerol
What does IP3 stand for?
Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate
What are second messengers?
Small molecules that diffuse rapidly through the cytoplasm to their protein targets
What is an advantage of a second messenger?
Facilitate amplification
True or false: different second messengers have different ranges
True: some are short range, while others are long range
True or false: different second messengers have different kinds of outputs
True: they can be kinases, ion channels, GPCRs, etc.
How does an amplification cascade work?
The number of activated participants increases at each step in the cascade
What is one of the major motifs in cell signaling?
Phosphorylation cascade
How does a phosphorylation cascade work?
Kinases keep phosphorylating kinases to eventually get to an activate protein
What starts a phosphorylation cascade?
Relay molecule
How is a phosphorylation cascade stopped?
Through phosphatases (PP)
What do kinases do?
Add phosphate groups to proteins
What do phosphatases do?
Remove phosphate groups from proteins
True or false: phosphorylation always activates a protein
False: phosphorylation can also inactivate a protein (such as glycogen synthase)
What does the speed of the response (generally) depend on?
The turnover of the signaling molecule
How fast are phosphorylation cascades?
Fast (kinases are already in the cell) (compared to protein synthesis)
How can cells adjust the sensitivity to a signal (5 ways)?
Receptor sequestration, receptor down-regulation, receptor inactivation, inactivation of signaling protein, or production of inhibitory protein
What does “receptor sequestration” refer to (in terms of adjusting sensitivity)?
Endocytosis of signal, to either stop surface signaling, or start other signaling
What does “receptor down-regulation” refer to (in terms of adjusting sensitivity)?
Degrade receptor in a lysosome
What does “receptor inactivation” refer to (in terms of adjusting sensitivity)?
Something in the pathway inhibits the receptor
What does “inactivation of signaling protein” refer to (in terms of adjusting sensitivity)?
Downstream effects can inhibit the signaling molecule as part of the pathway
What does “production of inhibitory protein” refer to (in terms of adjusting sensitivity)?
Can activate an inhibitory protein that inhibits the signaling loop
What is the structure of a fatty acid?
Carboxylic acid and a long hydrocarbon chain
Is the carboxylic acid hydrophilic or hydrophobic?
Hydrophilic
Is the hydrocarbon chain hydrophilic or hydrophobic?
Hydrophobic
How can fatty acids differ?
Through length and saturation (bonds between carbons)
What is the structure of a phospholipid?
A polar head group, a phosphate group, a glycerol, and 2 fatty acid tails
What are the most common phospholipid head groups?
Serine, ethanolamine, choline, and inositol
What is the structure of serine?
C(NH3+)(H)(COO-)(CH2)~
What is the structure of ethanolamine?
NH3+-CH2-CH2-CH2~
What is the structure of choline?
N(CH3)+-CH2-CH2~
What is the structure of inositol?
6 carbon ring with hydroxyl groups (similar to a carbohydrate)
What do the different head groups of phospholipids have in common?
All very polar
What term describes phospholipids?
Amphipathic
What does amphipathic mean?
Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of a molecule
What molecule is amphipathic?
Phospholipids (both hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic head)
How are phospholipids named?
Phosphotidyl[head group]
What do phospholipids make up?
Phospholipid bilayer (plasma membrane)