Links
Objectives
- Describe the role of phosphorylation in signal transduction
- Discuss signal amplification
- Identify several second messenger molecules and their functions
- Describe some typical results of signal transduction in the cell
Key points
- Many signal transduction chains employ protein phosphorylation
- kinases are enzymes that attach a phosphate to a substrate
- phosphatases are enzymes that remove phosphates
- Phosphorylation state changes the activity of a protein
- Second messengers connect receptors to kinase cascades
- Cells amplify signals through signal transduction cascades (Fig. 4)
- Signal transduction chains result in cellular responses
- changes in gene expression
- changes in protein activity or degradation
- passage through the cell cycle and into cell division
In-class activities
- Review for Friday’s exam, ask any questions for clarification