AP Bio Insta-Review Topic 4.3: Signal Transduction

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What is apoptosis?

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Programmed cell death.

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What is a transcription factor?

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A protein that binds to specific DNA sequences to regulate gene expression.

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What is signal transduction?

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The process by which a cell responds to external signals through a series of molecular events.

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What are receptors in signal transduction?

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Proteins on the cell surface or inside the cell that bind to signaling molecules.

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What is a ligand?

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A molecule that binds to a receptor to initiate a signal transduction pathway.

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What is the role of second messengers in signal transduction?

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They relay signals received at receptors on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell.

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What is the difference between autocrine and paracrine signaling?

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Autocrine signaling involves a cell responding to signals it produces itself, while paracrine signaling involves signals affecting nearby cells.

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What is the function of G-proteins in signal transduction?

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G-proteins act as molecular switches that relay signals from receptors to target proteins.

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What is the significance of phosphorylation in signal transduction?

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Phosphorylation can activate or deactivate proteins, thus regulating their function in signaling pathways.

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What is a signaling cascade?

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A series of biochemical events triggered by a signal that amplifies the response within the cell.