Signalling mechanisms of growth and division Flashcards
In what phase are most adult cells?
G0 (quiescent phase)
What is the role of c-Myc?
Transcription factor that stimulates expression of cell cycle genes
What are Myc conc levels like during the quiescent G0 phase and when cell division is triggered?
Very low in G0 phase but rapid increase in Myc when cell division is triggered which then plateaus at an intermediate level- this correlates with cells moving out of G0 and into G1
What stimulates the cell cycle by signalling pathways?
Growth factor
What sort of receptor does growth factor usually bind to?
Tyrosine kinase type receptors
What does growth factor act via after binding to the receptor?
Small GTP-binding protein - Ras
What does Ras trigger?
Kinase cascade
How quick is the early stage of the cell cycle triggering?
Very fast
What does the kinase cascade trigger?
Activation of genes that are required for the progression of cells through the cell cycle
How does the speed of the gene activation compare to the earlier stage of the cell cycle triggering?
It is slower because it requires transcription and translation to take place
What is an example of a mitogenic growth factor?
Hepatocyte growth factor
What does the phosphorylated receptor protein tyrosine kinase recruit?
Adapter and signalling proteins (Grb2)
What sort of receptors normally sit on the plasma membrane in terms of oligomerisation?
Monomers
What are most growth factors in terms of oligomerisation?
Dimers
What happens when the dimeric growth factor binds to the two receptor tyrosine kinase molecules?
It brings them closer together
What is able to happen when the two receptors are close together?
The tyrosine kinase domain is able to cross-phosphorylate the partner receptor
What do the tyrosine kinases use to phosphorylate the tyrosine residues in proteins?
Gamma phosphate of ATP
What do the phosphorylated domains on the tyrosine kinase receptors act as?
Docking sites for adaptor proteins which contribute to downstream signalling
What does the antibody herceptin do?
Inhibits the her2 receptor tyrosine kinase
Why is herceptin’s function important?
It can be used to treat a number of tumours- it blocks the early stage of growth stimulation
What is one of the important adaptor molecules that is recruited?
Grb2
What does the fact that adaptor proteins are often modular mean?
There are different domains that are mixed and matched to give the protein different properties which are important in molecular recognition
What other roles do adaptor proteins have apart from binging proteins together?
None! No enzymatic activity
What are the only two types of Grb protein-protein interactions?
SH2- binds to phosphorylated tyrosine of the receptor
SH3 (two copies)- binds to the proline rich regions of other proteins
What else does Grb bind to as well as RPTK via its SH2 domain?
A protein called Sos through its SH3 domains (Grb is always bound to Sos)
What is Sos?
An exchange factor for Ras (a signalling molecule that sits in the membrane of the cell)
When RPTK becomes activated, what happens?
Phosphorylation of the receptor
What happens after phosphorylation of the receptor?
Grb2 (with Sos attached) binds to the phosphorylated tyrosine domains and Sos is then close enough to the membrane to activate Ras
How does Sos activate Ras?
It allows the exchange of GDP for GTP in Ras to form a GTP bound form of Ras- this changes the conformation of Ras which puts it into an active state that can signal downstream and can allow the propagation of the signal
For Ras to work, what has to happen and how is this information used clinically?
It has to bind with the plasma membrane
Interfering with the membrane binding of the Ras, you can make good anti-cancer therapy
What sort of protein is Ras?
GTP binding proteins
What are GTP binding proteins very effective at?
Being molecular switches:
On- GTP bound
Off- GDP bound
Why is GTP replacing GDP to make Ras active not phosphorylation?
It is merely an exchange of GDP for GTP (catalysed by Sos)
What is intrinsic GTP hydrolysis capability?
The GTP binding protein is able to hydrolyse GTP to GDP to turn itself off
What else can stimulate the hydrolysis of the GTP?
GTPase activating proteins (GAPs)
What is the cycle of GTP binding proteins almost always controlled by?
Turn it on: Exchange factors (e.g. Sos)
Turn it off: GTPase activating proteins (GAPs)
What is the main G-protein in case of growth factor stimulatory pathways?
Ras
Why is it very important that you are able to turn off the signalling activity of Ras protein?
Prevent uncontrolled division- Ras is mutated in ways that cause the Ras protein to constantly be in the GTP bound form
What is V12Ras?
Glycine residue in position 12 of the Ras protein has changed to valine due to a Ras gene mutation- side chain has gone from being a simple hydrogen (in glycine) to a hydrophobic side chain (valine)
What effect does the change in structure between Ras and V12Ras have?
It prevents GAPs from binding to Ras thus meaning that Ras can’t turn off very easily
What is L61Ras?
Glutamine in position 61 is converted to leucine- single base change in the genome- side chain goes from being an amide to a hydrophobic side chain
What effect does the change in structure between Ras and L61Ras have?
It inhibits the intrinsic GTPase activity of the Ras protein so it ends up being constantly in the GTP bound state and giving growth stimulatory signals