Biochemistry : Signal Transduction Pathways

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Tyrosine Kinase Pathway

Where do protein kinases most commonly add phosphate groups from ATP for signaling purposes?

Possible Answers:

To the hydroxyl group of tyrosine, threonine, or serine

To the carboxyl group on aspartic and glutamic acids

To the sulfur on methionine

To the nitrogen on arginine, histidine, and lysine

To the  group on cysteine

Correct answer:

To the hydroxyl group of tyrosine, threonine, or serine

Explanation:

The most common point of transfer of an ATP phosphate group is to the hydroxyl of tyrosine, serine, and threonine. Tyrosine and serine/threonine-specific kinases, in particular, help regulate signal transduction. As for the other amino acids, another kinase that sometimes appears is a histidine kinase, mostly in prokaryotes. Sulfur, nitrogen, and carboxyl groups are not typical targets for phosphorylation within proteins for signaling purposes.

Example Question #2 : Tyrosine Kinase Pathway

What are some hormones that exert their actions by activating receptor tyrosine activity?

I. Insulin

II. Epidermal growth factor 

III. Platelet-derived growth factor 

IV. Epinephrine

Possible Answers:

I, II, and III

I and II

II, III, and IV

I and III

I, II, III, and IV

Correct answer:

I, II, and III

Explanation:

Insulin, platelet-derived growth factor and, epidermal growth factor all use receptors that have intrinsic tyrosine activity. The hormones bind to the receptor which activates the tyrosine kinase. This in turn induces receptor transautophosphorylation and activation of -domain downstream molecules. Epinephrine is a hormone that when bound, activates a G protein-coupled receptor and leads to activation of adenyl cyclase.

Example Question #1 : Integrins

Which of the following is false about integrin structure and function?

Possible Answers:

Integrins are made of a single subunit.

Integrins bind a cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix.

Integrins are central to blood clotting.

Integrins can set off signaling pathways in the cell, indicating the nature of the extracellular matrix.

Typically, integrins are attached to actin or intermediate filaments.

Correct answer:

Integrins are made of a single subunit.

Explanation:

Integrins have two subunits, alpha and beta. They do indeed bind the cell's cytoskeleton to its matrix, and can indicate to the cell the nature of that matrix. Integrins attach to a cell's actin and intermediate filaments. Blood platelets contain integrins, which bind proteins, like fibrinogen, in the matrix. This permits blood clotting, and the absence of certain integrins can cause a pathology in which people's blood does not clot well.

Example Question #2 : Integrins

Which of the following statements is true?

Possible Answers:

Some transport proteins are symmetric, while others are asymmetric across the plasma membrane.

Transport proteins are identical in structure to gap junctions

All transport proteins are asymmetric across the plasma membrane.

All transport proteins are heterotetramers

All transport proteins are symmetric across the plasma membrane.

Correct answer:

All transport proteins are asymmetric across the plasma membrane.

Explanation:

Transport proteins (such as the GLUT1 transporter) are asymmetric. They have two conformational states that accept the ligand from the extracellular environment and release it inside the cell after transport.

Example Question #3 : Integrins

Which of these transporters involves the formation of a high energy intermediate?

Possible Answers:

Lactose permease

More than one of these answers

Calcium-hydrogen ATPase

Sodium-potassium ATPase

GLUT1 transporter

Correct answer:

More than one of these answers

Explanation:

The sodium-potassium ATPase and the calcium-hydrogen ATPase (active transporters) are both correct and form high energy aspartyl phosphate intermediates inside the cell.

Example Question #2 : Integrins

The sodium-potassium pump is used in many different cells to control the concentration and movement of ions across the membrane. Which of the following is true about the sodium-potassium pump?

Possible Answers:

It is passive transport, making the cytosol polarize

It uses ATP to exchange one potassium ion and one sodium ion

It uses ATP to bring sodium into the cell

It is active transport, effectively making the cytosol more negative

The pump allows sodium and potassium to flow down their electrochemical gradients

Correct answer:

It is active transport, effectively making the cytosol more negative

Explanation:

Many of the distractors have partially correct statements. In full, the sodium-potassium ATPase pump is an active exchanger, meaning it is a transporter that uses ATP to move two different ions across the membrane. In this case, the transporter hydrolyzes ATP to move 3 sodium ions out of the cell and 2 potassium ions into the cell. This means that with every transport the cell looses a negatively charged cation, making the cytosol a little more negatively charged. 

The sodium-potassium pump often moves the molecules against their concentration gradients. 

Example Question #1 : Toll Like Receptors

A bacterium is often recognized and attacked by the immune cells. What is true regarding this process?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Peptidoglycan is a molecule recognized by immune cells

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the bacteria signal and recruit immune cells and peptidoglycan is a molecule recognized by immune cells

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the bacteria signal and recruit immune cells

Correct answer:

Peptidoglycan is a molecule recognized by immune cells

Explanation:

Toll-like receptors are special molecules that recognize specific portions of pathogens called PAMPs (pathogen associated molecular patterns). The toll-like receptors on the immune cells recognize PAMPs on the pathogen. One of the most common PAMPs recognized by toll-like receptors is peptidoglycan on the cell walls of the bacteria.

Example Question #2 : Toll Like Receptors

Which of the following is true regarding toll-like receptors?

I. They are found on pathogens

II. They are involved in both acute and chronic inflammation

III. They are not found on complements

Possible Answers:

I only

III only

II and III

I and III

Correct answer:

II and III

Explanation:

Toll-like receptors found on immune cells recognize pathogens and recruit other immune cells to clear the pathogen. These toll-like receptors are found in both innate immune system (macrophages and neutrophils) and in adaptive immune system (lymphocytes). Recall that acute inflammation is mediated by neutrophils and macrophages whereas chronic inflammation is mediated by lymphocytes; therefore, toll-like receptors can activate both acute and chronic inflammation. Complements are part of the innate immune system and serve as markers (opsonins) for pathogen recognition. Complements bind to an infected cell or to an antibody-antigen complex and signal immune cells to eliminate the pathogen. They do not utilize toll-like receptors.

Example Question #3 : Toll Like Receptors

Which of the following processes will be ultimately modulated by activation of toll-like receptors?

Possible Answers:

Protein phosphorylation

Transcription

DNA replication

Translation

Correct answer:

Transcription

Explanation:

Upon activation, toll-like receptors activate a transcription factor called nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-KB). This transcription factor ultimately activates genes in the genome that are involved in immune response. Upon activation of NF-KB, genes undergo transcription and produce mRNA which can eventually be converted to proteins that facilitate the immune response; therefore, activation of toll-like receptors (TLR's) activates transcription.

Example Question #4 : Toll Like Receptors

What are some characteristics of toll-like receptors?

I. Toll-like receptors are transmembrane proteins characterized by an extracellular domain and a cytoplasmic tail containing the toll receptor domain.

II. Toll-like receptors can be activated by viral double-stranded RNA.

III. Toll-like receptors alert immune cells to the presence of bacterial infections.

IV. Toll-like receptors are expressed in antigen presenting immune cells (dendritic cells).

Possible Answers:

II, III, and IV

II and III

I and II

I, II, and III

I, II, III, and IV

Correct answer:

I, II, III, and IV

Explanation:

Toll-like receptors can be activated by bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, flagellin, and bacterial DNA. Toll-like receptors activate transcription factors and immune regulatory factors.Activation triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukins.

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