S1: Hormone Synthesis and Action of Hormones Flashcards
What are the two main hormones synthesised?
- Peptide/Protein hormones
2. Steroids and iondinated tyrosines
What are the characteristics of peptide hormones and steroids and iodinated tyrosines?
Peptide/Protein hormones
- Water soluble
- Made from large precursor molecules (prehormones)
- Can’t transverse plasma membrane –> have to use cell surface receptors
Steroids and Iondinated tyrosines (thyroid hormones)
- Lipid soluble
- Made from low molecular weight precursors
- Can transverse plasma membrane –> bind to intracellular receptors
Describe the generalised scheme for the synthesis of protein/peptide hormones
1) Transcription of DNA to RNA
2) Post transcriptional processing, where the RNA is converted to mature RNA, introns excised, modification of 3’ and 5’ ends
3) Translation of mature RNA into protein using tRNA to transfer the amino acids
4) Post translational processing, cleavage of large pre-hormone, folding of proteins, addition of sugars (glycosylation)
Explain how the protein being translated is directed inside cellular membrane so pieces of the membrane form secretory granules
- There is signal peptide at the (N terminal) of the polypeptide being synthesised by the ribosomes
- Signal peptide binds to SRP (signal recognition protein)
- SRP binds to an SRP receptor on the rough endoplasmic reticulum
- Signal sequence is passed through ER membrane into the lumen of the ER through a protein channel
- The signal peptide sequence is removed by peptidases and protein synthesis continues
Where is the signal peptide found?
The N-terminal of the polypeptide being synthesised by the ribosome
What does signal peptide bind to?
Signal peptide binds to SRP (signal recognition protein)
What does SRP bind to?
SRP binds to an SRP receptor on the rough endoplasmic reticulum
How does signal sequence pass through ER membrane into lumen?
Through protein channel
What is the function of signal peptide?
The signal peptide allows the protein to be incorporated into the lumen of the ER and subsequently the Golgi apparatus.
What is a pre-prohormone?
Signal sequence plus the prohormone
What is a prohormone?
It consists of active hormone and redundant sequence
The signal sequence has been cleaved off from the pre-prohormone
Describe synthesis of insulin
- Transcription to mRNA
- Excision of introns to mRNA
- Removal of signal sequence and formation of disulphide bonds in RER
- Pre-proinsulin to proinsulin
- Tranfer to golgi apparatus
- Excision of C peptide (redundant part of protein)
- Packaging into secretory vesicles
What is the precursor for all steroid hormones?
Cholesterol molecule
Where is cholesterol stored?
Stored in lipid stores in steroid synthesising cells (bound to sterol carrier protein)
What stimulates a cascade involving cAMP and PKA (secondary messengers)?
Trophic hormone
What does stimulation of cAMP and PKA cause?
StAR protein to become active which binds to mitochondrial wall and transports cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane
What happens to cholesterol inside the mitochondria?
There are enzymes that cleave parts of the cholesterol molecule to produce the steroid
What turns cholesterol into prognenolone?
Pregnenolone is the precursor for many steroid molecules.
The side chain cleavage enzyme P450scc (rate limiting step) turns cholesterol into prognenolone.
What enzymes synthesise steroids?
Hydroxylase enzymes–> between the mitochondria and SER
P450
Dehydrogenases