Biosignaling Exercise
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1. A receptor is the third type of protein studied that interacts with small molecules. Distinguish receptors from enzymes and transport proteins that bind solutes by completing the table below. Focus on the majority of cases in answering.

Table 1: Protein Binding

type of protein

enzyme

transport protein

receptor

What type of molecule does it bind?

     

Name the part of the protein that binds the molecule.

     

What happens to the molecule it binds?

     

How does the protein change, if at all?

     

2. The nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor is an ion channel.
a. Write the steps involved in its activation and response as a sequence.
     You should have 3 steps.
b. How is each effect reversed? Be specific.

3. Summarize the sequence of events that is triggered by epinephrine binding a
β-adrenergic receptor. Note that this is reversible, and that each activation is eventually followed by an inactivation.

Table 2: G-protein Pathway

protein

activated by

inactivated by

(a) β-adrenergic receptor

epinephrine binding

epinephrine dissociation

Gsα protein

   

AC (adenylyl cyclase)

   

PKA (protein kinase A)

   

phosphorylase kinase, an enzyme activated by PKA

   

4. Classify each molecule in the sequence below by indicating whether it is an enzyme (E), a non-enzyme protein (P), or a non-protein molecule (M).

Table 3: G-Protein Pathway Molecules

molecule

β-adrenergic receptor

Gs protein

AC (adenylyl cyclase)

type of molecule

     

molecule

cAMP

PKA

phosphorylase kinase

type of molecule

     

5. You should have four enzymes listed in Table 3.
a. Write the reaction each enzyme catalyzes.
b. Describe the effect in the G-protein pathway of each product.

6. The Gs protein pathway can be summarized like this:
hormone + receptor → activation of Gsα → activation of AC → cAMP synthesis → activation of PKA → activation of phosphorylase kinase

a. Write a similar sequence for the Gi pathway.
b. Write a similar sequence for the Gq pathway. You will have a branch point for
    this pathway.

7. Amplification occurs any time the molecule on the left of an arrow can have a repeated effect. For example, in the Gs pathway, the receptor can activate several Gs proteins, so amplification occurs at that arrow.
a. At which arrows in the Gs pathway does amplification occur?
b. At which arrows in the Gq pathway does amplification occur?

8. PKA and PKC catalyze similar reactions.
a. Use Table 6-10 in the text and write the consensus sequence recognized by each.
b. Are these sequences more likely to be found on the exterior or interior of a protein?
c. How does the reaction catalyzed by the protein kinase affect protein activity?
d. How is the effect reversed?

9. How is Ca2+ transport by the Ca2+ ATPase relevant for the Gq pathway?

 

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