Signal Thansduction Pathways

\(hat happens inside of a cell when a signal has been received?

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cells release signal molecules (ligands) to send a message, and the message is received, a whole
host of events take place inside the cell. The ultimate goal is a response-a gene is turned on, a protein is
manufactured, an enzyme is activated, the cell divides or dies, etc. There are many responses that could
occur, but the pathways to those responses are very similar.

Model 1 - Basic Signal Tiransduction Pathway

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1. According to Model 1, does the signal transduction pathway occur inside or outside of a cell?
Inside.

2. Compare the shape of the ligand in Model 1 to the shape of the receptor protein.
The shapes of the ligand and recelttor proteins are compatible so the ligand u.,iltft into the actiue site

4 ,.";^::;::::'*!,','r* transduction pathway are risted below. Label the diagram above with
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the Roman numerals to indicate where on the diagram each step is taking place.
I. Signaling See Model 1.

II. Reception
III. Tlansduction
ry. Response

Signal Tlansduction Pathways tt7

 4. Based on the diagram in Model I and your labels, propose a definition for "transduction" in the
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context of the signal transduction Pathway.
The signal gets moued through the cell to the ___location where the response will occur.

Amplification often occurs during the transduction step in the signal transduction pathway.
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a. Define "amplification" as

Arnplification is to mahe larger.

it is used in everyday language.
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b. Explinhow the signal in Model 1 was amplified.

One relay protein was able to actiuate seueral relay proteins, each of uhich caused a res?onse.
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List several possible responses that could occur due to a signal being received by a cell. (Hint:
There are several listed in the Why?box.)
A proteiru produced, a gene is turned on, a protein channel is opened, a cell diuides or dies.
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7. Once the response is achieved in a cell, what would need to occur to stop the response?
The actiuated relay proteins utould need to be deactiuated.

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Signal transduction pathways are as varied as the species on Earth, but each of them follow the same basic
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st."ps. Reception may occur by the ligand attaching to a receptor protein or the ligand may travel through IF
the cell membrane by diffusion. Tlansduction may occur by one protein or by several proteins activating lj
each other in a cascade. Keep this in mind as you continue working through this activity.
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118 POGIL" Activities for AP* Biolory C
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Model 2 - Phosphorylation Cascade

$1r1onamplifi cation step

/a*olification step

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8. Refer to Model2. Describe the event that sets off a phosphorylation cascade inside of a cell.
A ligand axached to an actiue site in a receptzr ?rotein in a cell membrane.
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% g. Phosphorylation is a process that adds a phosphate group onto a protein to "activate" i1-1[21
is, to change its shape enough that it can function properly.

a. \Which step(s) in the phosphorylation cascade illustrated in Model 2 include phosphorylation?

Steps 4, 5, and 7.
&. \Mhere do the phosphate groups come from that are added to the proteins during
phosphorylation?
The phosphate group comes from an ATP molecule that conuerts to ADP
10. According to Model 2,whatclass of enzymes performs phosphorylation?
Kinases.
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rulI. Identify the steps in Model 2 that represent reception, transduction, and response for the
phosphorylation pathway.
Reception Thansduction Response

Step 1 Steps 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Step 7

Signal Tiansduction Pathways 119

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t2. \)7hat is the cellt response to the signal received in Model2? a
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13.
Transcription of a segment of DNA is started.

In Model2, steps 3,4, and5 are shown as amplification steps. Describe what that means in e
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terms of this signal mansduction Pathway example.
Each hinase can dctiuate more than one of the next kindse enzllnes in the sequence. d
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t4. \7hat advantage would there be ro an organism if the signal transduction pathway had several
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amplification steps?
Amplifcation would allow the reception of a single ligand to cduse a res?onse in seueral places in the
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crtL ;t allows an organism to respond t0 d stimulus faster.

15. Describe what would occur in the cell if the activated protein kinase enzymes continued to be d
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active for a long period of time.
The nanscription factor would. continue to transmibe the
uere d.ctiue.

\[hat
DNA strand

would need to occur in the cell to deactivate the protein kinase enzymes?
The phosphate groa?s would need to be remoued.
as long as the protein kiruases

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t7. Protein phosphatases are enzymes that remove phosphate grouPs from proteins' Complete the
illustration irr lrrtod.l Z by aiding at least two protein phosphatases (PP) to show how the cell is
returned to inactive status.
See Moful 2. Ansuters ma! uary/, but students should shora anows from an
actiue kinase 2 or actiue
kinase 3 to an inactiue hinase 2 or 3 (respectiuely).

18. Although signal transduction pathways vary among species, there are several common elements.
Explain"hori a biologist mighiuse details about signal transduction pathways used in different
species as evidence for evolutionary relatedness.

Species that use the sarne ligand.s, receptlr ?rlteins, and relay proteins are probably chsely related by
euolution.

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Extension Questions
Model 3 - Secondary Messengers

. - Secondarv
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19. Consider the signal transduction pathway in Model 3. \7hat event begins the process of produc-
ing a cellular response?
A ligand attached to the actiue site of a recePtur Protein molecule.

20. Locate the secondary messenger molecules in Model 3.

a. Describe the rype of diffusion that is used to get the secondary messengers into the cell.
Facilitated dffision.
b. What activates or opens the transport protein channel that allows the secondary messengers to
enter the cell?
The membrane channel is opened fu the actiaated relay protein, uthich attaches to an actiue site on
the transport proteiru.

Signal Tiansduction Pathways t2r

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Relay molecules and secondary messengers have essentially the same jobs in signal transduction pathways.
However, relay molecules are almost always proteins that require activation. They are large and do not dif-
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fuse through the cell quickly. Secondary messengers on the other hand are small, water soluble molecules
that can diffirse quickly. They may or may not need activation before they are able to move the signal on
to the next step in the process. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and calcium ions (Ca2*) are common secondary mes-
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sengers in human systems.
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21. \Tithin an organism it is critical that signals between cells are very specific. For example, if
ligand A is meant to activate immune system cells to reproduce in response to an infection, it
should not also cause other cells to grow as if they had received a growth hormone. \[hen a
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ligand is released, what prevents all of the cells in the body from being affected?
The corresponding shape of the ligand and the receptor allows for Eecifcity. For exarnple, rece?tors
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for ligand A would only be found on the target immane slstem cells and not 0n cardiac muscle cells or
skin epithelial celk. Thus, euen thoagh the cardiac muscle cells or shin epithelial cells would be exposed d
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to ligand A, they uould not be able to bind to it and therefore could not react to it.
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