Biosignaling Flashcards
Do receptors and ligands form covalent or non-covalent bonds?
Non-covalent
What are tissue-specific receptors? Give an example.
- Receptors are only present in one or two tissues
- TRH receptor in pituitary cells
What are tissue-specific receptor targets?
- Receptors are present in various tissues, but they respond differently in different cells
- Adrenalin receptor in the liver increases glycogenolysis and in adipocytes stimulates fatty acid release
What is a receptor?
Membrane-bound or soluble protein or protein complex, which exerts a physiological intrinsic effect after binding its natural ligand
What term applies to a situation in which both hormones are bound to receptors on the same cell?
Integration
What is signal amplification?
When enzymes activate enzymes, the number of affected molecules increases geometrically in an enzyme cascade
What is desensitization/adaptation?
- Receptor decreases its response to a signalling molecule when that agonist is in high concentration
- Cascadal mediators inhibit the ligand and receptor; stops the response
Give examples of desensitization.
- Smell
- Bright light to dark light
- Skin sensation
What is integration?
Two different receptors for two different signals modulate for the same response
What does the response of signal integration depend on?
- Depends on many receptor-ligand interactions
- Cells respond to all of them as a whole
Give examples of some signals to which cells respond.
- Antigens
- Growth factors
- Hormones
- Light
- Neurotransmitters
- Nutrients
- Odorants
What are the two ways a ligand-receptor can induce a response?
- Ligand-receptor directly induces a response
- Ligand-receptor –> activity of effectors –> response (indirect)
How many GPCR receptors are there?
We don’t know; could be 800 could be more
Which receptor does 50% of drugs target? Give an example.
- GPCR
- Prozac
What is the ligand and the receptor in the cAMP GPCR example?
- Ligand: epinephrine
- B-adrenergic receptor
What is Gs? What does it increase/decrease?
- Stimulates adenylyl cyclase
- Increases levels of cAMP in the cell
What is Gi? What does it increase/decrease?
- Inhibits adenylyl cyclase
- Decreases levels of cAMP in the cell
What is Gq? What does it increase/decrease?
- Activates phospholipase C (PLC)
- Increases calcium levels in the cell
In the cAMP mechanism of a GCPR receptor, what does the Gsa subunit move towards after it dissociates frmo Gsbg?
Moves towards adenylyl cyclase
What is the role of adenylyl cyclase in the cAMP mechanism of GCPR?
Catalyzes the formation of cAMP from ATP
In the cAMP mechanism of a GCPR receptor, what does cAMP do?
Activates PKA
What causes the cellular response to epinephrine in the cAMP mechanism of a GCPR receptor?
Phosphorylation of cellular proteins by PKA
How does adenylyl cyclase catalyze the formation of cAMP from ATP?
Removes two phosphate groups from ATP
What does AKAP stand for? What is its role? In which mechanism is it located?
- a-kinase anchoring protein
- Anchors PKA
- In the cAMP mechanism of a GCPR receptor
What is the structure of the PKA/AKAP complex?
- AKAP anchors 2 PKA subunits (dimer)
- Each PKA subunit has a catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit
Which subunit does cAMP bind to in the PKA complex?
cAMP binds to the regulatory subunit
How many cAMPs are required to activate a dimer of PKA?
4 molecules of cAMP for 2 molecules of PKA
How does PKA phosphorylate other proteins?
When cAMP binds to the regulatory subunit, the catalytic subunit is released and the substrate-binding cleft is now activated; it can phosphorylate other proteins
Give examples of popular GPCRs.
- Ghrelin receptor
- Gonado trophin receptor
- Histamine H1 receptor
If epinephrine binds to a receptor in the liver cell, how many molecules of glucose are generated?
If epinephrine = x, glucose = 10 000x
What are the two ways the signal of the cAMP mechanism in a GCPR receptor can be terminated?
1) Conversion of cAMP to AMP by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase; since AMP is not functional and cannot activate PKA
2) Modulators of GTPase activity
What converts cAMP to AMP?
Cyclic nucleotide
What are the modulators of GTPase activity? (2)
- GAP (GTPase activator protein)
- RGS (Regulators of the G-Protein)
Give two examples of signals that use cAMP as second messengers. Are they Gs or Gi?
- Epinephrine: Gs
- Prostaglandins: Gi
In the IP3 and Ca mechanism in a GPCR, is Gs or Gi used?
Neither, Gq is used
What does the activated Gq with GTP move towards in the IP3 and Ca mechanism in a GPCR?
Moves towards PLC
What does PLC mean?
Phospholipase C
What is the role of PLC? Which mechanism is it implicated in?
- Cleaves PIP2 to IP3 and diacylglycerol
- In the IP3 and Ca mechanism in a GPCR
What is the role of IP3? Which mechanism is it implicated in?
- Binds to a specific receptor-gated Ca2+ channel, releasing sequestered Ca2+
- In the IP3 and Ca mechanism in a GPCR