Question

Cell signaling involves converting extracellular signals to specific responses inside the target cell. Different molecules are involved at each stage of the process. In this activity, you will sort items based on which stage they are involved in: reception, transduction, or response. Drag each item to the appropriate bin.

(1) phosphorylation cascade

(2) protein synthesis

(3) second messenger

(4) receptor tyrosine kinase

(5) signaling molecule

(6) Ca

(7) CAMPP

(8) G protein-coupled receptor

(9) adenylyl cyclase


(A) reception

(B) transduction

(C) response

Answer 1

(1) phosphorylation cascade - (B) transduction

(2) protein synthesis - (C) response

(3) second messenger - (B) transduction

(4) receptor tyrosine kinase - (A) reception

(5) signaling molecule - (B) transduction

(6) Ca - (B) transduction

(7) CAMPP - (B) transduction

(8) G protein-coupled receptor - (A) reception

(9) adenylyl cyclase - (B) transduction

Step-by-step explanation:

Protein G belongs to a class of proteins involved in the transduction of cellular signals. It is an important mediator of metabolic pathways in the form of heterotrimer, with α, β and γ subunits, which, in the plasma membrane, is associated with GPCR receptors. When an extracellular signal binds to a GPCR (G protein-associated receptor) present on the plasma membrane of cells, G protein undergoes a conformational change capable of activating one of its subunits that is GTP-bound, making it able to alternate between one binding state with an inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP), the other with an active guanosine triphosphate (GTP). This leads to a cascade of signaling events that result in the regulation of subsequent cell processes such as the release of second messengers such as cyclic AMP. Protein G, along with its receptor, transmits signals from hormones and neurotransmitters, controlling the metabolism of cellular machinery, such as contraction, transcription and secretion.