M&R session 6: receptors and receptor-mediated endocytosis Flashcards
What is a receptor?
Any biological molecule to which a drug binds and produces a measurable response which regulates a cellular process. Unbound, they are functionally silent.
Specialised macromolecules on a cell surface/within cell that selectively interact with a specific ligand to cause a response
How might chemical signalling take place?
Hormones: signally between cells in different tissues via the circulation
Neurotransmitters: signalling at synapses
Local chemical mediators: signalling between adjacent cells in the same tissue
What is a ligand?
A small molecule that binds specifically to a site on a receptor protein. Can activate a receptor (agonist) or combine without causing activation (antagonist)
Could be naturally-occurring or a drug
What is an acceptor?
A receptor who’s basic function can occur without the interaction of a ligand. Ligand binding alone gives no response
Specificity of a response
If signalling molecule is hydrophilic, signal recognition site of receptor must be present on the extracellular space of the cell surface, then interaction of signalling molecule with receptor will cause activation of process
If signalling molecule is hydrophobic it will gain access to cell via lipid bilayer diffusion, but intracellular receptor still needed to transduce signal into a cellular response
Similarities and differences between receptor binding sites and enzyme active sites
Similarities:
- receptor binding governed by shape of binding side
- often reversible
- induce a conformational change and change in activity of a molecule
- no chemical modification of ligand/enzyme
Differences:
- L-R affinity usually higher than E-S
- ligand-R not chemically modified; S-E is modified in a chemical reaction catalysed by the active site
List some general roles of receptors
Signalling Neurotransmission Cellular delivery (LDL, transferrin) Control of gene expression (steroids, thyroid hormones) Release of intracellular Ca2+ stores (IP3 receptors) Immune responses Cell adhesion Absorption Pressure sensing e.g. baroreceptors Hormonal actions Antigen recognition
What is signal transduction and why is it necessary?
Hydrophobic signalling molecules can freely cross the plasma membrane and interact with intracellular receptors (e.g. steroids, thyroxine). Most receptors however are hydrophilic, so must interact with specific receptor proteins at the cell surface (can’t cross the plasma membrane)
Signal transduction involves 4 common mechanisms which transduce extracellular hydrophilic signals into an intracellular event, after which amplification can occur
Signal transduction via ligand-gated ion channels
Agonist binds to receptor, change in conformation, channel opens, so flow of ions down electrochemical gradient. This transduces the signal into an electrochemical event at the plasma membrane
Response is RAPID: a few ms
Response mediates a diverse range of functions, e.g. neurotransmission, cardiac conduction and muscular contraction
Classical or structurally distinct LGICs
Describe the classical LGIC family and give examples
Pentameric (5 subunit) structure
- 4 transmembrane domains per subunit
- of which 1 TM domain (M2) forms the channel lining
Examples:
- nAChR: a gated Na+, K+ and Ca2+ channel
- GABA R: gated Cl- channel (inhibitory)
- GlyR: gated Cl- channel (inhibitory, in spinal cord
- glutamate receptor: gated Ca2+ entry
Some LGICs used in signal transduction are distinct from the classical family strucute. Give examples
P2X ATP receptor
IP3 receptor (gated Ca2+ entry from ER)
Ryanodine receptor (intracellular Ca2+ entry)
Cyclic nucleotide receptor
Describe the general actions of enzyme-linked receptors in signal transduction
Agonist binds to extracellular domain-conformational change-activates intrinsic enzyme activity
Atrial natriuretic peptide action
ANP receptor is coupled to guanyl cyclase and growth factor receptors such as receptors for insulin, EGF and PDGF
These are directly linked to tyrosine kinase
Give features of the signal transduction by insulin receptors on binding insulin
Insulin binds to receptor, activates integral tyrosine kinase activity in cytoplasmic domain
Receptor autophosphorylation
Binding of transducing proteins via specific SH2 domains which recognise phosphotyrosine residues on the receptor
Tyrosine phosphorylation of transducing protein, activation of effector enzymes
Describe the mechanism of tyrosine kinase-linked receptors
- HORMONE binds and site and activates PROTEIN KINASE activity in the CYTOPLASMIC domain of the receptor
- receptor AUTOPHOSPHORYLATES tyrosine residues (catalyses P from ATP into its own structure)
- phosphorylated receptor tyrosine kinase residues are recognised by TRANSDUCING PROTEINS (e.g. IRS-1) or DIRECTLY by enzymes with recognition domains
- on association with receptor/transducing protein, the enzyme is activated ALLOSTERICALLY or by tyrosine phosphatase
Therefore message is transduced by an intracellular chemical event