Adventures of Signal Transduction Pathway

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to signal transduction pathways based on the provided lecture notes.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a cell responds to an external signal, translating it into a cellular response.

Ligand

A molecule that binds to a receptor, often initiating a signaling cascade.

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR)

A large family of receptors that detect molecules outside the cell and activate internal signal transduction pathways.

Intracellular Signaling Proteins

Proteins within the cell that relay, amplify, integrate, and distribute signals from receptors.

Phosphorylation

A biochemical process that involves adding a phosphate group to a protein, often altering its activity.

Second Messenger

Small molecules that propagate a signal inside the cell following receptor activation.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs)

Membrane receptors that, upon activation, phosphorylate tyrosine residues and activate signaling pathways.

MAP Kinase Cascade

A signaling pathway that involves a series of kinases, leading to cellular responses such as changes in gene expression.

GDP/GTP Cycle

The cycle that allows G-proteins to toggle between active (GTP-bound) and inactive (GDP-bound) states.

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death that may be part of a signaling pathway response.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

A condition where the endoplasmic reticulum cannot properly fold proteins, leading to activated stress response pathways.

Feedback Loop

A system where the output of a process influences the operation of the process itself.

Calcium Ions

Common secondary messengers in cell signaling, altering various cellular activities.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP)

A second messenger involved in many biological processes and cellular responses.

Apoptosis Signaling Pathway

A signaling pathway that leads to programmed cell death.