Signal Transduction and Cytoskeleton

Flashcards covering key concepts related to signal transduction pathways and the cytoskeleton.

Adapter Protein

Proteins that bind to phosphorylated tyrosine, facilitating downstream signaling.

RAS

A small GTP-binding protein involved in cellular signaling pathways, significant in cancer overexpression.

MAP Kinase Pathway

A signaling pathway that includes a series of three kinases that work to transduce signals from the cell surface to the target proteins.

Phosphoinositol 3 Kinase (PI3K)

An enzyme that phosphorylates phosphoinositol, acting as a docking station for other proteins in signaling pathways.

AKT

A serine/threonine kinase that, when activated, regulates various cellular processes including survival and metabolism.

Guanidine Exchange Factor

A protein that facilitates the exchange of GDP for GTP, activating small GTP-binding proteins like RAS.

Signal Molecule

A molecule that binds to receptors to initiate a cellular signaling cascade.

Crosstalk

Interaction between different signaling pathways that allows for the integration of cellular responses.

Nuclear Receptors

Intracellular receptors that bind hydrophobic ligands (like steroid hormones) and regulate gene expression.

Epithelial Growth Factor

A signaling molecule that can initiate cell growth and division through receptor interaction.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that occurs under certain conditions to eliminate damaged or unnecessary cells.

Transmembrane Receptor

A receptor that spans the cell membrane and transmits signals from outside to the inside of the cell.

Intracellular Signaling Molecule

Proteins within a cell that relay signals from receptors to target proteins, generally through phosphorylation.

Microtubules

The largest cytoskeletal filaments that provide structural support and transport within cells.

Intermediate Filaments

Cytoskeletal components that provide strength and stability to the cell against mechanical stress.

Actin Filaments (Microfilaments)

The smallest cytoskeletal filaments that are involved in muscle contraction and cell movement.

Signal Integration

The process by which cells combine signals from multiple pathways to produce a unified response.

Kinase

An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups to substrates, modifying their activity.

Ligand

A molecule that binds to a receptor to initiate a signaling cascade.

Gene Expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products, typically proteins.