Question

During the signal transduction process, the signal often triggers a signal transduction cascade. For example: An activated receptor activates hundreds of protein A. Each activated protein A activates hundreds of protein B and so on until a cellular response occurs. What purpose does this cascade serve?

-Please choose the correct answer from the following choices, and then select the submit answer button.


-The cascade serves to amplify the signal, so one activated receptor can have a significant response.

-Having several intermediates allows for greater control of the response.

-Having a cascade allows the cell to respond to different signals.

-The cascade makes signaling easier to shut off or terminate.

Answer 1

The signal transduction cascade amplifies the initial signal from a receptor so a single activated receptor can result in a significant cellular response. This creates a high level of efficiency and specificity in cellular responses to signals.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the signal transduction process, a signal transduction cascade serves the purpose of amplifying the signal. This ensures that one activated receptor can trigger a significant cellular response. The activation of a receptor results in the activation of hundreds of copies of protein A, which in turn activate hundreds of copies of protein B, thereby amplifying the signal. This amplification is crucial because it allows single-ligand receptor interactions to have profound effects on the cell. This system also allows for intricate control over the response and enables cells to have varied responses to the same signal due to the complex interplay of proteins and second messengers, such as cAMP and Ca2+.