Signalling Mechanisms of Growth and Division Flashcards
what is c-Myc and what does it do?
a transcription factor that stimulates expression of cell cycle genes
what are c-Myc levels in the quiescent phase and cell division phase?
Concentration of Myc is low in the quiescent phase and then in triggered cell division, Myc rapidly rises
what are the 3 components of the signalling pathway?
- Regulation of enzyme activity by protein phosphorylation – kinases.
- Adapter proteins.
- Regulation of GTP-binding proteins.
how is the signalling pathway stimulated at first?
by growth factor which triggers a kinase cascade
what is the main effect of the kinase cascade?
the activation of immediate early genes (which c-Myc affects) required for the progression the cell cycle (transcription and translation)
what does the phosphorylated receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RPTK) recruit?
the adaptor molecule
e.g. Grb2
and signalling proteins
what is the action of the dimeric Growth Factor (GF)?
draws together two tyrosine kinase receptors which then cross-phosphorylate using ATP
where do adaptor proteins bind?
to the phosphorylated domains which act as docking sites
e.g Grb2
example of substance that can block the binding of the dimeric growth factor?
Herceptin (anti-Her2 antibody) blocks growth early
what gives adaptor proteins different properties?
Different domains are mixed and matched to give the protein different properties. Important in molecular recognition
do adaptor proteins have enzymatic functions?
molecules have no enzymatic function; they simply bring other proteins together.
what are type of interactions that Grb2 make?
o SH2 – binds to phosphorylated tyrosine of receptor.
o SH3 – bind to proline rich regions of other proteins.
SH2 is important here
what is the role of adaptor protein in relation to the RTK?
brings in the Ras (a GTP binding protein)
What sort of molecule is Ras?
a GTP binding protein which is switched on when attached to GTP and switched off when there is no GTP (GDP instead)
it is not a kinase
in what conditions is Ras active?
has to be bound to the plasma membrane
then must have a GTP bound
what enables GTP to bind to Ras?
exchange factors e.g. Sos
what switches off Ras?
GTPase Activating Proteins (GAPs) that hydrolyse the GTP to GDP
what role does Ras play in cancer?
Ras is usually in the switched off position
but mutations mean it could have GTP bound all the time leading to constant cell cycle signals being made
act as oncogene
where does the Ras-activating protein e.g Sos bind?
to the adaptor protein at SH3, at all times
what binds to SH2 and SH3?
adaptor protein is bound to the RTK via SH2
the Ras-activating protein (exchange factors like Sos) is ALWAYS bound to Grb2 via SH3
what is the effect of a Ras mutation?
Ras can be oncogenically activated by mutations that increase amount of active GTP-loaded Ras.
examples of Ras mutations
V12Ras – glycine in position 12 –> valine
o Prevents GAP binding so prevents inactivation. (GAP ensure GTP to GDP on Ras)
L61Ras – glutamine in position 61 –> leucine.
o Prevents GTP hydrolysis.
what is the role of activated (GTP-bound) Ras?
initiate the ERK (a MAPK cascade form) cascade so the kinases can activate another
phosphorylate Raf
what is the kinase cascade called
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) cascade.
same as Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade
what are the 3 kinases specific to ERK cascade?
o Raf – MAPKKK.
o MEK – MAPKK.
o ERK – MAPK.
what is the role of protein kinases?
changes in cell proteins (activity) and gene expression to promote division via phosphorylation
what does the ERK kinase in the ERK cascade do?
this is the last kinase in the cascade which phosphorylates proteins to change their activity e.g the transcription factors so they can regulate gene expression
an example of a gene that will be expressed is c-Myc as a result of the cascade
what are key oncogenes that can be mutated in human cancers/tumours?
Myc and Ras
what proteins regulate the cell cycle (CC) ?
cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks)
these are not tyrosine kinases
when are Cdks present?
Present in proliferating cells throughout the cell cycle.
how do Cdks regulate the CC?
interaction with cyclins & phosphorylation