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In a typical signaling system, such as that induced by insulin, a five-fold increase of insulin in the blood would produce_____

a. a five-fold increase in bound receptor.
b. a five-fold increase in cellular response.
c. a 25-fold increase in cellular response.
d. a five-fold increase in both bound receptor and cellular response.
e. both a five-fold increase in bound receptor and a 25-fold increase in cellular response.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A five-fold increase in insulin does not directly translate to a five-fold increase in cellular response due to complex cellular signaling dynamics like signal amplification and receptor sensitivity.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the biological response to a hormone like insulin, the relationship between the concentration of the hormone and the cellular response does not typically follow a simple linear pathway. A five-fold increase in insulin in the blood would not necessarily result in a five-fold increase in receptor binding and cellular response. Instead, due to different mechanistic factors such as receptor saturation, down-regulation of receptors, and activation thresholds of various signaling pathways, the effect on cellular response can be more complex. The correct answer is:

  • a. a five-fold increase in bound receptor.
  • b. a five-fold increase in cellular response.
  • c. a 25-fold increase in cellular response.
  • d. a five-fold increase in both bound receptor and cellular response.
  • e. both a five-fold increase in bound receptor and a 25-fold increase in cellular response.

The most typical response would likely be a progressive increase in the number of receptors bound as insulin concentration increases, but not necessarily a corresponding linear increase in the cellular response due to the signaling system's potential non-linear dynamics, such as signal amplification, feedback mechanisms, and receptor sensitivity changes.

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