Final answer:
Binding a neurotransmitter such as dopamine to its receptor can indeed lead to the activation of kinases through a series of reactions resulting in second messengers like cAMP. This is part of a complex signaling cascade that ultimately alters cell function, including changes in gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: Binding a neurotransmitter can lead to the activation of kinases. The correct answer is true. When a neurotransmitter such as dopamine binds to its receptor on the neuron, it can trigger a cascade of events inside the cell. Specifically, when dopamine binds to a G-protein-linked receptor, it initiates a series of reactions that can result in the production of second messengers like cAMP. These second messengers often lead to the activation of protein kinases, which are enzymes that add phosphate groups to other proteins. This process of phosphorylation can alter the activity of the target proteins, leading to changes in cell function. One example is the activation of a transcription factor through a phosphorylation cascade that results in changes in gene expression.
Regarding insulin, before the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on a receptor tyrosine kinase, the binding of the hormone to the receptor must occur. This interaction prompts an allosteric change that ultimately leads to phosphorylation and subsequent intracellular responses.