Biosignaling Exercise Key
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1.

Table 1: Protein Binding

type of protein

enzyme

transport protein

receptor

What type of molecule does it bind?

substrate
solute
ligand/hormone

Name the part of the protein that binds the molecule.

active site
binding site
binding site

What happens to the molecule it binds?

converted to product
moved across the membrane
nothing; eventually released

How does the protein change, if at all?

no change
conformation changes during transport
conformation changes → change in the cell

2. a. ACh binds the receptor → ion channel opens → Na+ and Ca2+ enter the cell.
b. ACh dissociates from the receptor and is hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase;
the ion channel closes; Na+ is removed from the cell by the Na+-K+ ATPase, and
Ca2+ is removed from the cell by the Ca2+ ATPase.

3.

Table 2: G-protein Pathway

protein

activated by

inactivated by

(a) β-adrenergic receptor

epinephrine binding

epinephrine dissociation

Gsα protein

activated receptor, causing release of GDP and Gβγ converting GTP → GDP

AC (adenylyl cyclase)

associated with activated Gsα no association with a G protein

PKA (protein kinase A)

cAMP binding to the R subunits removal of cAMP; R subunits bind C subunits

phosphorylase kinase, an enzyme activated by PKA

phosphorylation by PKA removal of phosphoryl group by phosphatase

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

P
E
E

molecule

cAMP

PKA

phosphorylase kinase

type of molecule

M
E
E

5. a. Gα : GTP + H2O → GDP + Pi ; AC: ATP → cAMP + PPi;
            PKA: protein-OH + ATP → protein-phosphate + ADP
b. GDP inactivates Gα; cAMP activates PKA; protein-phosphate has changed activity and causes a change in cell behavior.

6. a. hormone + receptor → activation of Gi → inhibition of AC
b. hormone + receptor → activation of Gq → activation of phospholipase C → cleavage of phosphatidyl inositol into
a. PIP3 → increased [Ca2+] in the cytosol → Ca2+–CaM complex → protein activation
b. DAG → activation of PKC (assisted by Ca2+).
Another version is shown below.

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. a. Amplification occurs when the receptor activates Gsα, when AC makes c-AMP, and when PKA modifies enzymes.
b. Amplification occurs when the receptor activates Gqα, when phospholipase C converts phosphatidyl inositol into IP3 and DAG, when IP3 causes release of many Ca2+, when PKC modifies enzymes, and when the activated, modified proteins have effects on the cell.

8. a. PKA recognizes X-R-(R/K)-X-(S/T)-B-;
PKC recognizes -(R/K)-(R/K-X-(S/T)-B-(R/K)-(R/K)-.
b. Exterior (mostly charged or polar)
c. The activity is changed (increased for some enzymes, decreased for others).
d. A phosphatase hydrolyzes the phosphoryl-S/T bond, and phosphate is released.

9. After Ca2+ has been released into the cytosol, the Ca2+ ATPase moves Ca2+ out of the cytosol
(into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, or SR, and outside the cell).

 

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