08 AP Biology Cell Signaling

Front

What is the role of insulin in the body?

Back

Insulin is a hormone that helps lower blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells.

Front

Which species is most likely to respond to human insulin?

Back

Mouse.

Front

What is a signal transduction pathway?

Back

A series of molecular events and chemical reactions that lead to a cellular response following the binding of a signaling molecule to a receptor.

Front

What happens during the response stage of a signal transduction pathway involving epinephrine?

Back

Glycogen synthesis is inhibited and glycogen breakdown is promoted.

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 process do vesicles use to release neurotransmitters?

Back

Exocytosis.

Front

What is the function of protein kinases?

Back

Protein kinases activate proteins by transferring a phosphate group to them.

Front

What is the role of cAMP in signal transduction?

Back

cAMP acts as a secondary messenger that relays signals from receptors on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell.

Front

What is the difference between exocytosis and endocytosis?

Back

Exocytosis is the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane to release their contents outside the cell, while endocytosis is the process of taking substances into the cell by engulfing them.

Front

What is a G-protein coupled receptor?

Back

A type of membrane receptor that, when bound by a signaling molecule, activates a G-protein, which then triggers a signaling cascade inside the cell.