TEST 3 Flashcards
how do bacteria receive and act on signals?
bacteria have membrane proteins that act as information receptors to generate responses such as:
- movement to and from stimuli
-formation of spores in conditions of nutrient starvation
what conditions do plant cells respond to?
variations in:
- sunlight
- growth hormones
- gravity
what are ligands called that stimulate pathways?
agonists
what are ligands called that inhibit pathways?
antagonists
name the 5 main types of receptor signalling
- direct contact
- gap junction
- autocrine
- paracrine
- endocrine
give a brief explanation of direct contact signalling
- a protein on the signalling cell binds to a protein on the target cell, and the target cell responds
- common in tissue development
what occurs in gap junction signalling?
- gap junctions exchange small signalling molecules and ions, coordinating metabolic reactions between cells
- used in electrical synapses
give an explanation of autocrine signalling
- the ligand induces a response only in the signalling cells
- often used to enforce developmental decisions, also a common feature of cancer cells
describe paracrine signalling
- neighbouring cells respond if they have the correct receptors for the ligand
- diffusion of the ligand is limited - it is destroyed by extracellular enzymes or internalised by adjacent cells
- occurs at the neuromuscular junction
give a brief description of endocrine signalling
- the ligand is produced by endocrine cells and is carried in the blood, inducing a response in distant target cells
- e.g. pancreatic functioning
how is specificity maintained (2 methods)?
1 - cell type specific expression and differential gene expression
- certain receptors are only present on certain cells, and molecules downstream of the receptor are only present in some cells
- genes can be turned on or off by interactions of activator or repressor regulators with enhancer of silencer control elements
2 - high affinity interactions
- there is a precise molecular complementarity between the ligand and the receptor, mediated by non-covalent forces
what is the equation for the equilibrium constant, what does it mean, and what are its units?
Keq = [RL]/[R][L]
- at equilibrium the rate of association and the rate of dissociation are equal
- the units are M^-1
- Keq is the affinity of molecules for each other
what is the equation for the dissociation equilibrium constant and what are its units?
Kd = [R][L]/[RL]
- Kd has the units of M
how does desensitisation occur in signalling pathways and when is sensitivity regained?
- when a signal is present continuously, the signal transduction pathway becomes desensitised
- when the signal falls below a threshold level, the signal regains sensitivity
what are the 5 main classes of receptors?
- receptors with intrinsic enzyme activity
- receptors linked to protein kinases
- receptors coupled to target proteins via a G protein
- intracellular receptors
- receptors that are ion channels
what hormones are required to regulate blood pressure, where are they found and what are their actions?
pancreatic:
- insulin - lowers BGL
- glucagon - raises BGL
adrenal:
- epinephrine - raises BGL
- cortisol - raises BGL
what function do acinar cells have?
digestive functions
what hormones in the islet of Langerhans are secreted by what cells?
- alpha cells secrete glucagon
- beta cells secrete insulin
- delta cells secrete somatostatin
what happens to the insulin receptor subunits following translation?
1 - they enter the ER membrane
2 - they associate into dimers
3 - they are exported to the cell surface via the golgi apparatus
4 - during intracellular transport, the proteins are processed by cleavage, each into an alpha and beta subunit
5 - at the plasma membrane, they are displayed as transmembrane proteins
define the term ‘first messenger’
an extracellular substance that binds to a cell surface receptor and initiates signal transduction that results in a change in intracellular activity
- they are also known as ligands
define ‘receptor’
- a protein that binds and responds to the first messenger
- receptors may be either displayed at the cell surface or may be intracellular
what occurs in insulin signalling when IR are activated?
1 - insulin binding stimulates an allosteric change in IR (autophosphorylation), bringing the cytosolic domain close and allowing activation
2 - activated IR phosphorylates and activates the insulin receptor substrate 1. the signal is transduced from the extracellular side to the intracellular side and is transferred to a soluble protein in the cytosol
3 - activated IRS-1 is bound by the adaptor molecules Grb2 and Sos, the signal is transferred to Sos (a nucleotide exchange factor)
4 - Sos converts inactive GDP bound Ras to active GDP bound Ras - the signal is transferred to the G protein Ras in the cellular membrane, activating Ras in the process
5 - activated Ras recruits Raf kinase to the membrane and activates its protein kinase activity. Raf phosphorylates and activates MEK kinase. MEK phosphorylates and activates MAPK - the signal has been transduced from the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane and amplified across the cytosol through a MAPK cascade
6 - activated ERK migrates to the nucleus and alters gene modulating expression of insulin responsive genes and causes expression of CDKs needed for mitosis
what is a second messenger?
- a small, metabolically unique molecule, not a protein, whose concentrations can change rapidly
- second messengers relay signals from receptors to target molecules in the cytoplasm or nucleus
what stages occur in glucose regulation?
1 - IRS-1 can activate PI-3K which phosphorylates membrane lipids
2 - membrane lipid PIP2 is phosphorylated by PI-3K to produce PIP3 (the second messenger)
3 - PIP3 recruits PDK1 which activates PKB
what are the responses in glucose regulation after PKB are activated
- there is an upregulation of glucose entry into cells and upregulation of glycogen production
- both growth and glucose metabolism can be coordinated via insulin signalling because there is a common intermediate
how is the glucose regulation pathway terminated?
a PTEN removes the phosphate at the 3 position of PIP3 to convert it into PIP2
- this shuts off signalling through PKB
what are the main symptoms of diabetes?
- excessive thirst
- frequent urination
- excretion of large amount of glucose in the urine
what is the basic structure of G-protein coupled receptors?
- extracellular domains - E1 and loops E2-4
- transmembrane domains - TM1-7
- cytosolic domain loops C1-C3 and C4 tail (C4 has a lipid anchor)
what is the result of a ligand binding to a G-protein coupled receptor?
1 - the GPCR forms a barrel shape and the ligand binding changes the orientation of the TM helices
2 - the heterotrimeric G protein is a timer of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits that is inactive when bound to GDP but active when bound to GTP. ligand binding alters receptor shape which induces nucleotide exchange from GDP to GTP
3 - following Galpha activation, the G-protein dissociates from the receptor to yield a Galpha-GTP and a tightly interacting Gbetagamma dimer
how is Galpha regulated in ligand binding?
- Galpha has a slow hydrolysis activity which regenerates the inactive form of the alpha subunit allowing reassociation with a Gbetagamma dimer to form the resting G protein
- this can again bind to a GPCR and await activation
what amount of each subunits do mammalian cells have?
- at least 20 Galpha subunits
- at least 5 Gbeta subunits
- at least 12 Ggamma subunits
what are some of the physiological responses in the fight or flight response?
- acceleration of heart and lung action
- palling or flushing
- general effect on the sphincters in the body
- dilation of blood vessels in muscles
- inhibition of tear and saliva production
- dilation of pupils and tunnel vision
- shaking
what is the role of cortisol in the flight or fight response?
- increases blood sugar through gluconeogenesis
- suppresses the immune system
what are the results of epinephrine on adrenergic receptors?
- binding to alpha adrenergic receptors inhibits insulin secretion by the pancreas, stimulates glycogenesis in the liver and the muscle, and stimulates glycolysis in the muscle
- binding to beta adrenergic receptors triggers glucagon secretion in the pancreas and increased lipolysis by adipose tissue
what chain of events occurs when epinephrine binds to adrenergic receptors?
1 - epinephrine binds a beta adrenergic receptor and activates a Gs
2 - removal of the ligand regenerates an inactive GPCR complex
3 - Gbeta inhibits adenylate cyclase but the alpha subunit stimulates adenylate cyclase
4 - this increases cAMP levels in the cell
- using cAMP, epinephrine induces glycogen breakdown in skeletal muscle and induces contraction in cardiac muscle
what occurs when epinephrine binds an alpha-adrenergic GPCR receptor coupled to a Gi heteromeric G protein?
- G alpha-i is activated and inhibits adenylate cyclase
- G betagamma-i subunits activate MAPK cascade
how is epinephrine terminated?
- adenylate cyclase acts as a GAP on Gas, converting the Galpha to its inactive form
what is the structure of the cholera toxin?
- cholera toxin has a catalytic A chain that sits in a ring of 5B subunits
- the A chain is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a catalytic chain (CTxA1) linked to CTxA2 that anchors the A1 chain in the B chain pentamer
- CTxA1 and CTxA2 are linked by disulphide bonds
how does the toxin act on the ER of cells?
1 - CTx binds the cell surface ganglioside lipid GM1 on target intestinal epithelial cells
2 - it then undergoes retrograde trafficking via endosomes and the Golgi complex to the ER
3 - at the ER, the disulphide bond between
what is leptin?
- leptin is a soluble factor released into the bloodstream by adipose tissue
- leptin binds leptin receptors in the hypothalamus and changes feeding behaviour
what gene is leptin the product of?
the Lep^OB gene
what behaviour is exhibited when the Lep^OB gene is inhibited?
- the physiology and behaviour of starvation occurs
- there are some similarities to the physiology of type II diabetes
what gene expresses the leptin receptor and where is it expressed?
- the Lepr^DB gene
- it is expressed in the hypothalamus
what is the function of leptin?
- it carries a message that fat reserves are sufficient
- it binds receptors in anorexigenic neurons in the hypothalamus and stimulates a signalling cascade that results in the release of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone that modulates the nervous system
what are the effects of leptin?
- suppression of appetite
- stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system:
– increased blood pressure
– increased heart rate
– increased thermogenesis
what occurs in the signalling pathway when leptin binds to the leptin receptor?
1 - leptin binds to the leptin receptor
2 - the ligand binds and dimerises the receptor, the dimerised receptor recruits protein JAK
3 - the receptor associates with JAK
4 - JAK phosphorylates Lep-R and activates it. the phosphorylation sites are used to recruit STATs
5 - STATs 3,5,6 are associated with the leptin pathway and are brought close to JAK
6 - JAK phosphorylates the fat STATs
7 - the phosphorylated STATs dimerise, exposing their nuclear localisation signals
8 - the dimerised STATs enter the nucleus and are not active transcription factors that modulate gene expression
9 - the precursor for alpha-MSH is made and processed to produce alpha-MSH
10 - alpha-MSH signals the next neuron to send a signal to the brain to stop eating
what are STATs?
STATs are latent transcription factors that are activated by JAKs
what are JAKs?
- JAKs are cytosolic, non-receptor tyrosine kinases that transduce cytokine-mediated signals via the JAK-STAT pathway
- they possess 2 near identical phosphate transferring domains - one domain is a kinase, the other negatively regulates the kinase activity of the first
what is erythropoietin?
a hormone cytokine that controls the development of erythrocytes from precursor cells in the bone marrow
where is erythropoietin produced?
it is produced primarily in the kidneys
when is erythropoietin used?
- the kidneys measure haematocrit and sets it to 45%
- under hypoxic conditions, erythropoietin is secreted from the kidneys to increase erythrocyte production
when is erythropoietin used medically?
- it is only used in specific cases of anaemia caused by cancer treatments
how is EPO signalling controlled?
1 - via JAK-STAT pathway using STATs
2 - following JAK autophosphorylation, EPO signalling can access a Ras dependent pathway
- both mechanisms allow growth and development to be coordinated
describe the basic structure of G-protein coupled receptors
- there are 4 extracellular domains
- there are 7 transmembrane domains
- there are 4 cytosolic domains (3 loops and 1 tail)
- the tail has a lipid anchor
describe the process of ligand binding to G-protein coupled receptors
1 - GPCRs fold into a tertiary barrel structure and a ligand binds within the cavity. bulky ligands may bind to the extracellular loops or the N-terminal
2 - ligand binding changes the orientation of the TM helices
3 - ligand binding alters receptor shape, inducing nucleotide exchange of GDP to GTP
4 - the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits of the G-protein activate when bound to GTP
5 - after G alpha activation, the G protein moves from the receptor to make a Galpa-GTP complex and a G beta-gamma dimer
what number of each G protein subunit do mammals possess?
- at least 20 alpha subunits
- at least 5 beta subunits
- at least 12 gamma subunits
list some of the physiological responses involved in fight or flight
- acceleration of heart and lung action
- paling or flushing
- dilation of blood vessels in muscles
- inhibition of tear and saliva production
- dilation of pupils and tunnel vision
- shaking
what stimulates the physiological responses of fight or flight?
stimulated by the release of epinephrine and cortisol from the adrenal glands
what are the main effects of cortisol release?
- cortisol increases blood sugar through gluconeogenesis and suppresses the immune system
how does epinephrine bind to bring about a change?
- adrenergic receptors are GPCRs
1 - epinephrine binds a beta-adrenergic receptor and activates the G subunits
2 - the removal of the ligand regenerates an inactive GPCR complex
3 - G-beta inhibits adenylate cyclase but the alpha subunit stimulates adenylate cyclase
4 - epinephrine also binds an alpha-adrenergic GPCR receptor couples to a Gi heterotrimeric G protein. G beta-gamma-i subunits activate a MAPK cascade. G-alpha-i is activated and inhibits adenylate cyclase
5 - cAMP levels increase in the cell
how is cAMP used for epinephrine action
glycogen breakdown is induced in skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle contraction is induced
describe protein kinase A activation and action
1 - cAMP activates protein kinase A
2 - PKA binds 2 molecules of cAMP and becomes activated
3 - activated PKA targets proteins such as:
- transcription factors
- ion channels
- other enzymes
how is epinephrine terminated?
adenylate cyclase acts as a GAP on Galpha-s, converting the G-alpha to its inactive form
describe the structure of cholera toxin
- cholera toxin has a catalytic A chain that sits in a ring of 5B subunits
- the A chain is processed by proteolytic cleavage yo produce a catalytic chain disulphide (CTxAI) linked to CTxA2 that anchors the A1 chain in the B chain pentamer
describe the process of cholera toxin action
1 - CTx binds the cell surface ganglioside lipid GM1 on target intestinal epithelial cells
2 - it undergoes retrograde trafficking via endosomes and the Golgi complex to the ER
3 - at the ER, disulphide bonds between CTxA1 and CTxA2 is broken by protein disulphide isomerase
4 - binding protein keeps CTxA1 soluble until it dissociates across the ER membrane in an unfolded form
5 - CTxA1 refolds in the cytosol
what gives CTxA1 its toxicity?
- it is an ADP ribosylate
- the modified Galpha-s is locked on permanently and cannot degrade GTP
- cAMP builds up, activating CFTR channels causing efflux of water and severe diarrhoea
where does light pass through in the vertebrate eye?
- through the neural layer
- through the cell bodies of the light receptor cells
what are rod cells responsible for?
non-colour vision at low light intensity
describe the structure of rod cells
- the outer segment contains 1000 discs not connected to the membrane
- each disc is a closed sac of membrane with embedded rhodopsin molecule
what is Rhodopsin?
it is a specialised GPCR made of opsin linked to 11-cis-retinal
what is 11-cis-retinal?
a chromophore prosthetic group
how does cis-trans isomerisation cause Rhodopsin to become activated?
1 - alternating single and double bonds form a polyene with an unsaturated network of electrons than can absorb light energy
2 - light absorption causes cis-trans isomerisation around the C12 and C13 bonds- the N of the key lysine moves 0.5nm
3 - this alters the shape of the receptor
what does rhodopsin become when activated?
activated metarhodopsin
what is the role of metarhodopsin?
it stimulates nucleotide exchange on the alpha subunit of a specific heterotrimeric G-protein (transducin)
what occurs when transducin is activated?
1 - light activates rhodopsin which activates the G+ transducin
2 - the G protein dissociates and leaves the receptor, resetting back to inactive conditions
3 - G-alpha-T (GTP) stimulates cGMP phosphodiesterase which removes cGMP from cGMP-gated ion channels
4 - the GMP produced stimulates the closing of the ion channels, hyperpolarising the membrane
describe the extent of rhodopsin’s sensitivity
- a rod cell can respond to 1 photon
- it takes 5 of these signals to reach threshold potential
what is the peak absorbance of rhodopsin?
500nm
how are rod cells inhibited under high light intensity?
1 - light closes the cGMP gated ion channels, reducing the influx of Ca2+
2 - Ca2+ is removed by Na/Ca antiporters so concentration of Ca in the cell falls
3 - low Ca2+ activates guanylate cyclase
4 - cGMP levels rise so the channels reopen
what can occur to rhodopsin at high light intensities?
rhodopsin can be phosphorylated by rhodopsin kinase
what reduces the activation of transducin?
rhodopsin phosphorylation
how many phosphorylation sites are there on rhodopsin?
there are 7
the higher the light intensity the more sites are phosphorylated
which visual pigments do humans possess?
- blue
- green
- red
how does sildenafil citrate cause blue tinged vision?
- it has a very similar structure to cGMP
- it inhibits PDE-6
how do intracellular receptors act as enzymes?
1 - an extracellular ligand diffuses across the plasma membrane and binds and activates its receptor
2 - the receptor converts its substrate into a product and the activity of downstream targets is altered
when was it found that nitric oxide relaxes smooth muscle?
1977
when was it discovered that Ach induces the release of endothelium deriving relaxing factor (EDRF)?
1980
how does nitric oxide signal in the body?
1 - the gas NO* diffuses across the membrane and binds and activates its receptor, guanylate cyclase
2 - GC converts GTP into cGMP
3 - cGMP is a second messenger
what is the primary treatment of angina?
glyceryl trinitrate - causes blood vessel dilation
how is NO* production in vivo stimulated by high blood pressure?
1 - autonomous nerves in the vessel wall respond to high blood pressure high shear and release Ach
2 - ACh binds its receptors on the endothelial membrane which increases CA2+ concentration
3 - high Ca2+ concentration activates nitric oxide synthase
4 - NOS catalyses the conversion of arginine to citrulline and nitric oxide
5 - NO* activates guanylate cyclase which converts GTP to cGMP
6 - cGMP activates protein kinase G in the smooth muscle
why can NO* only communicate over short distances in the body?
it is an unstable compound so has a short half life
what compound is EDRF?
NO*, found out in 1987
what is the action of protein kinase G after being activated by cGMP?
- it phosphorylates myosin light chain, relaxing the muscle
- smooth muscle relaxation causes blood vessel dilation which lowers blood pressure
what signalling pathways is nitric oxide involved in?
- control of capillary dilation
- control of blood vessel dilation
- control of peristaltic movement through the gut
- regulation of glomerular capillary pressure
- regulation of blood flow in the adrenal glands
- regulation of muscle contraction and blood flow in erectile tissue
do all signalling pathways using nitric oxide use responses via cGMP-dependent protein kinases?
no, there are also cGMP-gated ion channels and cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterases
what are the NOS1, nNOS neuronal isoforms used for in the body?
- development of the nervous system
- protection against cardiac arrhythmia induced by myocardial infarction
- peristalsis
- sexual arousal
what are the NOS2, iNOS inducible isoforms used for?
- producing large amounts of NO* as a macrophage defence mechanism
- cause of septic shock
what are the NOS3, eNOS endothelial isoforms used for?
- controls vascular tone
- insulin secretion
- regulates angiogenesis
- plays a critical role in embryonic heart development and morphogenesis of coronary arteries and cardiac valves
what is a recreational use of NO*?
poppers
what can be prescribed to treat a weak heart?
- an amyl nitrate inhalation spray which vaporises to produce NO$
what are cyclic nucleotides?
important secondary messengers that control physiological processes including smooth muscle contractility
what are phosphodiesterases?
a superfamily of metallophospy hydrolases that cleave cAMP and cGMP to produce the corresponding 5’ nucleotides
what are the 4 types of eostrogen?
- oestrone - predominant in the menopause
- oestradiol - predominant during the reproductive years
- oestetrol & oestriol - predominant in pregnancy
what type of hormones are eostrogens?
steroid hormones
describe the structure and placement of the oestrogen receptor (ER)
- it has an N-terminal transactivation domain, a DNA-binding domain, and a hormone binding domain
- it is stored in the cytosol in complex with a dimeric, chaperone protein, and Hsp90
-> Hsp90 bind near the ligand binding site and maintains the ER in a soluble (it is too large to enter th nucleus)
what occurs in eostrogen signalling?
1 - oestrogen diffuses across the plasma membrane and binds ER
2 - ER is released from Hsp90
3 - the ER-oestrogen complex enters the nucleus and binds oestrogen response elements as a dimer
4 - eostrogen-responsive genes are transcribed
why is there no amplification in oestrogen signalling?
the ER is both the receptor and effector
what are the roles of ERs in reproduction?
females - induction of progesterone receptor, cell differentiation, ovulation, implantation, pregnancy maintenance, childbirth
males - normal testicular function, fertility, sperm morphology
what are the roles of ERs in the cardiovascular system?
- lipid profiles
- fat distribution
- the tone of vascular and smooth muscle cells
- endocrine factors produced by the vascular wall
- fibrinogen levels
- blood platelets
- inflammatory factors
- coagulation