BS 161 MSU FALL 18 FINAL EXAM
STUDY GUIDE 100% VERIFIED.
Receptor activation - ANS The "turning on" of a receptor, which often occurs when a signaling
molecule binds to a receptor on a responding cell.
signal transduction - ANS The process in which an extracellular molecule acts as a signal to
activate a receptor, which transmits information through the cytoplasm.
response - ANS A change in cellular behavior, such as activation of enzymes or genes,
following a signal.
termination - ANS In protein translation, the time at which the addition of amino acids stops
and the completed polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome. In cell communication, the
stopping of a signal.
endocrine signaling - ANS Signaling by molecules that travel through the bloodstream.
paracrine signaling - ANS Signaling by a molecule that travels a short distance to the nearest
neighboring cell to bind its receptor and deliver its message.
growth factor - ANS Any one of a group of small, soluble molecules, usually the signal in
paracrine signaling, that affect cell growth, cell division, and changes in gene expression.
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,autocrine signaling - ANS Signaling between different parts of a cell; the signaling cell and the
responding cell are one and the same.
Neurons have what transmembrane protein? - ANS delta
Cells with activated notch transmembrane proteins become? - ANS glial cells
What type of molecule is the delta protein? - ANS signaling
Is notch a signaling molecule or receptor? - ANS receptor
ligand - ANS Alternative term for a signaling molecule that binds with a receptor, usually a
protein.
ligand-binding site - ANS The specific location on the receptor protein where a signaling
molecule binds.
G protein-coupled receptor - ANS A receptor that couples to G proteins, which bind to the
guanine nucleotides GTP and GDP.
G protein - ANS A protein that binds to the guanine nucleotides GTP and GDP.
receptor kinase - ANS A receptor that is an enzyme that adds a phosphate group to another
molecule.
phosphatase - ANS An enzyme that removes a phosphate group from another molecule.
ion channels - ANS Cell-surface receptors that open and close, thereby altering the flow of
ions across the plasma membrane.
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,What two characteristics do G-protein coupled receptors have? - ANS First, they have a
similar structure, consisting of a single polypeptide chain that has seven transmembrane
spanning regions, with the ligand-binding site on the outside of the cell and the portion that
binds to the G protein on the inside of the cell.
Second, when activated, they associate with a G protein.
When a ligand binds to a G protein-coupled receptor, the receptor in turn binds to and activates
a G protein by causing it to release ______ and bind ______? - ANS GDP;GTP
G proteins are active or turned on when bound to ____? G proteins are inactive or turned off
when bound to ____? - ANS GTP;GDP
Some G proteins are composed of three subunits, called the? - ANS Alpha, beta, and gamma
subunits.
The _____ subunit is the part of the G protein that binds to either GDP or GTP? - ANS alpha
When GDP bound to the α subunit is replaced by GTP, the ____ subunit separates from the
_____ and ____ subunits? - ANS Alpha; Beta; Gamma
Is the term "G protein" just a shorter name for a G protein-coupled receptor? - ANS No. A G
protein-coupled receptor is a transmembrane receptor that interacts with a G protein located
inside the cell on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane.
denylyl cyclase converts the nucleotide ATP into _____? - ANS cyclic AMP (cAMP)
denylyl cyclase converts the nucleotide ATP into _____? - ANS cyclic AMP (cAMP)
First messenger - ANS First messengers transmit signals from outside the cell to a receptor.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, binding affinity - ANS The tightness of the binding between the receptor and the signaling
molecule.
Kit - ANS Is a receptor kinase and is important for the production of pigment in skin, feathers,
scales, and hair.
(the name of a protein, like Kit, is capitalized and in roman type. The name of the gene that
encodes the protein, like kit, is lower case and italicized.)
Dimerization - ANS partnering of two similar or identical molecules; activates the cytoplasmic
kinase domains of the paired receptors, causing them to phosphorylate each other at multiple
sites on their cytoplasmic tails
Ras - ANS is a G protein, but in contrast to the three-subunit G proteins discussed earlier, Ras
consists of a single subunit, similar to the α subunit of the three-subunit G proteins.
the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, or MAP kinase pathway - ANS Activated GTP-
bound Ras triggers the activation of a protein kinase that is the first in a series of kinases that
are activated in turn, as each kinase phosphorylates the next in the series.
PKA is activated by? - ANS elevated cAMP levels associated with the G protein-coupled
receptor pathway.
Receptors for polar signaling molecules, including growth factors, are located ? - ANS on the
plasma membrane.
Receptors for nonpolar signaling molecules, such as steroid hormones, are located? - ANS in
the cytosol or in the nucleus.
Name the steps that occur when a signal binds to a receptor on a responding cell. -
ANS When a signal binds a receptor on a responding cell, the following steps typically occur:
receptor activation, signal transduction, response, and termination.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
STUDY GUIDE 100% VERIFIED.
Receptor activation - ANS The "turning on" of a receptor, which often occurs when a signaling
molecule binds to a receptor on a responding cell.
signal transduction - ANS The process in which an extracellular molecule acts as a signal to
activate a receptor, which transmits information through the cytoplasm.
response - ANS A change in cellular behavior, such as activation of enzymes or genes,
following a signal.
termination - ANS In protein translation, the time at which the addition of amino acids stops
and the completed polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome. In cell communication, the
stopping of a signal.
endocrine signaling - ANS Signaling by molecules that travel through the bloodstream.
paracrine signaling - ANS Signaling by a molecule that travels a short distance to the nearest
neighboring cell to bind its receptor and deliver its message.
growth factor - ANS Any one of a group of small, soluble molecules, usually the signal in
paracrine signaling, that affect cell growth, cell division, and changes in gene expression.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,autocrine signaling - ANS Signaling between different parts of a cell; the signaling cell and the
responding cell are one and the same.
Neurons have what transmembrane protein? - ANS delta
Cells with activated notch transmembrane proteins become? - ANS glial cells
What type of molecule is the delta protein? - ANS signaling
Is notch a signaling molecule or receptor? - ANS receptor
ligand - ANS Alternative term for a signaling molecule that binds with a receptor, usually a
protein.
ligand-binding site - ANS The specific location on the receptor protein where a signaling
molecule binds.
G protein-coupled receptor - ANS A receptor that couples to G proteins, which bind to the
guanine nucleotides GTP and GDP.
G protein - ANS A protein that binds to the guanine nucleotides GTP and GDP.
receptor kinase - ANS A receptor that is an enzyme that adds a phosphate group to another
molecule.
phosphatase - ANS An enzyme that removes a phosphate group from another molecule.
ion channels - ANS Cell-surface receptors that open and close, thereby altering the flow of
ions across the plasma membrane.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What two characteristics do G-protein coupled receptors have? - ANS First, they have a
similar structure, consisting of a single polypeptide chain that has seven transmembrane
spanning regions, with the ligand-binding site on the outside of the cell and the portion that
binds to the G protein on the inside of the cell.
Second, when activated, they associate with a G protein.
When a ligand binds to a G protein-coupled receptor, the receptor in turn binds to and activates
a G protein by causing it to release ______ and bind ______? - ANS GDP;GTP
G proteins are active or turned on when bound to ____? G proteins are inactive or turned off
when bound to ____? - ANS GTP;GDP
Some G proteins are composed of three subunits, called the? - ANS Alpha, beta, and gamma
subunits.
The _____ subunit is the part of the G protein that binds to either GDP or GTP? - ANS alpha
When GDP bound to the α subunit is replaced by GTP, the ____ subunit separates from the
_____ and ____ subunits? - ANS Alpha; Beta; Gamma
Is the term "G protein" just a shorter name for a G protein-coupled receptor? - ANS No. A G
protein-coupled receptor is a transmembrane receptor that interacts with a G protein located
inside the cell on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane.
denylyl cyclase converts the nucleotide ATP into _____? - ANS cyclic AMP (cAMP)
denylyl cyclase converts the nucleotide ATP into _____? - ANS cyclic AMP (cAMP)
First messenger - ANS First messengers transmit signals from outside the cell to a receptor.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, binding affinity - ANS The tightness of the binding between the receptor and the signaling
molecule.
Kit - ANS Is a receptor kinase and is important for the production of pigment in skin, feathers,
scales, and hair.
(the name of a protein, like Kit, is capitalized and in roman type. The name of the gene that
encodes the protein, like kit, is lower case and italicized.)
Dimerization - ANS partnering of two similar or identical molecules; activates the cytoplasmic
kinase domains of the paired receptors, causing them to phosphorylate each other at multiple
sites on their cytoplasmic tails
Ras - ANS is a G protein, but in contrast to the three-subunit G proteins discussed earlier, Ras
consists of a single subunit, similar to the α subunit of the three-subunit G proteins.
the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, or MAP kinase pathway - ANS Activated GTP-
bound Ras triggers the activation of a protein kinase that is the first in a series of kinases that
are activated in turn, as each kinase phosphorylates the next in the series.
PKA is activated by? - ANS elevated cAMP levels associated with the G protein-coupled
receptor pathway.
Receptors for polar signaling molecules, including growth factors, are located ? - ANS on the
plasma membrane.
Receptors for nonpolar signaling molecules, such as steroid hormones, are located? - ANS in
the cytosol or in the nucleus.
Name the steps that occur when a signal binds to a receptor on a responding cell. -
ANS When a signal binds a receptor on a responding cell, the following steps typically occur:
receptor activation, signal transduction, response, and termination.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
