AP Biology: Unit 4 Review (CED) Cell Comm (No Cell Division)

Front

What is a signal transduction pathway?

Back

A series of molecular events and chemical reactions that lead to a cellular response after a signal (ligand) binds to a receptor.

Front

What are the three main stages of a signal transduction pathway?

Back

Reception, transduction, and response.

Front

What role do ligands play in signal transduction?

Back

Ligands are signaling molecules that bind to receptors to initiate the signal transduction pathway.

Front

What is the function of secondary messengers in signal transduction?

Back

Secondary messengers amplify the signal and help propagate the response within the cell.

Front

Define negative feedback in biological systems.

Back

A regulatory mechanism in which a change in a physiological variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change, helping to maintain homeostasis.

Front

What is the difference between positive and negative feedback mechanisms?

Back

Positive feedback amplifies a response, while negative feedback reduces or counteracts a response.

Front

What is a phosphorylation cascade?

Back

A series of events in which one enzyme activates another by adding a phosphate group, leading to a chain reaction that amplifies the signal.

Front

What is the significance of receptor-ligand binding?

Back

It initiates the signal transduction pathway, leading to a specific cellular response.

Front

What are the potential effects of a mutation in a receptor protein?

Back

A mutation can lead to a receptor that is unable to bind its ligand, altering the cell's response to signals.

Front

What is gene expression in the context of signal transduction?

Back

The process by which a cell translates signals into the production of specific proteins, often as a response to external signals.