Final answer:
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are responsible for cascades that significantly amplify the membrane protein signaling. Ion channel receptors don't typically engage in cascading signal amplification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The receptors that bring about cascades of membrane proteins involving significant amplification are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). These receptors are known for triggering a series of downstream events inside the cell that greatly amplify the initial signal. While ion channel receptors can respond to binding by changing their conformation to allow ion flow, they do not typically engage in amplifying signaling cascades in the same manner as GPCRs and RTKs.
GPCRs function by activating G-proteins which then interact with either ion channels or enzymes like adenylate cyclase, leading to the production of second messengers like cAMP. This results in the activation of Protein Kinase A (PKA) or Protein Kinase C (PKC), and the signal is further amplified through phosphorylation cascades within the cell. On the other hand, RTKs are activated by the binding of a ligand, which causes the receptors to dimerize and autophosphorylate, initiating a phosphorylation cascade that amplifies the signal.
The correct answer to the student's question is thus 1) G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and 3) Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs).