Final answer:
Mitogen activated protein (MAP) cascades amplify the effects of signal transduction by relaying signals through phosphorylation events, leading to changes in cell division, metabolism, and gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitogen activated protein (MAP) cascades serve to amplify the effects of signal transduction. During signal transduction, a series of relay proteins activate target proteins, resulting in a cellular response. The MAP kinase cascade, a central component of many receptor kinase signaling pathways, includes a series of phosphorylation events by enzymes known as kinases. The phosphorylation of molecules often changes the shapes of proteins, which can activate or inactivate them, therefore carrying the signal downstream.
Proteins like the Ras protein can initiate the MAP kinase cascade. When abnormalities occur in the MAPK pathway, such as mutations in genes like Ras, uncontrolled cell proliferation may result, potentially leading to cancer. The signal transduction pathways have downstream effects such as cell division, metabolism changes, and gene expression related to cell proliferation and differentiation.