Lecture 3-14: Enzyme-Coupled Receptors

Enzyme-Coupled Receptors

Receptors that have enzymatic functions or recruit proteins with enzymatic functions, often involved in signal transduction.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs)

A type of receptor that autophosphorylates upon ligand-induced dimerization and specifically phosphorylates tyrosine residues.

Ras-GEF

A protein that activates Ras, a monomeric G protein, by loading it with GTP.

MAP kinase pathway

A signaling pathway that involves a cascade of kinase activations leading to cellular responses, such as cell division.

Akt

A serine/threonine kinase that promotes cell survival and growth through phosphorylation.

Notch signaling

A direct contact signaling pathway that regulates cell differentiation and tissue patterning.

Hydrophobic hormones

Hormones that are small and can pass through cell membranes to bind to intracellular receptors.

Ligand-induced dimerization

A process by which ligand binding causes receptors to pair up, often activating their signaling functions.

Co-immunoprecipitation

A laboratory technique used to isolate proteins that interact with a specific protein, helping to define signaling complexes.

Phosphorylation cascade

A series of events where one kinase activates another, leading to a significant amplification of the signal.