Proteins and Cell Signaling

Question 1

What are proteins made out of?

Answer 1

Large chains of amino acids (polypeptide chains)

Question 2

List a few examples of specific proteins that play a role in the body

Answer 2

Alpha-keratin: Makes up hair, nails and skin

Myosin and actin: involved in muscle movement

Question 3

What do proteins do?

Answer 3

many things! - provide structure, act as catalyst of reactions, involved in chemical signaling, movement etc

Question 4

What determines protein function?

Answer 4

Chemical properties of amino acids define shape and shape determines the function

Question 5

How do cells communicate with each other?

Answer 5

Chemical signals through proteins

Question 6

What is the cell membrane? What is its job?

Answer 6

Outer barrier of cell keeping the in in and out out - wall of a castle

Question 7

What is a ligand?

Answer 7

Messenger - molecules that get secreted from one cell and received by another

Question 8

What are cell membrane receptors?

Answer 8

Proteins embedded in membrane or inside cell that receives signals from outside

Question 9

Insert picture with ligand, receptor and response