signal transduction
conversion of information from one physical/chemical form to another
(to pass on signal from signal molec to receiving cell)
agonist
any ligand/signal that activates a receptor
antagonist
ligand that blocks actions of agonist
–> competitive binding to receptor
desensitization
INactivation of receptor
(prepare for reception of new signal)
go to “clean slate”
cross-talk
interaction between signaling pathways
intermediates and products of pathways can affect behavior of other pathways
1st major illumination of (existence of) signalling pathways
studying retroviruses
– found that Rous sarcoma virus transmission could cause tumors (–> discovered basic signalling molecs bc studied the viruses)
proto-oncogene
normal cellular gene, NOT (yet) oncogenic.
= responsible for some part of cell proliferation/growth
(can become oncogenic if mutated)
oncoprotein
the actual protein (encoded by an oncogene) responsible for cancerous cell growth and proliferation
specificity
signaling molec must fit (and be specific/unique) to the binding site on its complimentary receptor
major features of signal transduction systems (6)
specificity determined by…
Integration characteristic(s)
applies uniform response throughout environment
signal types
characteristics of hydrophilic signal molecs
paracrine system
LOCAL signaling (w/in tissue/body region),
releases signal molecs to the extracellular space.
- lower affinity at receptors
ie: immune (cytokines), development
autocrine system
specialized paracrine signaling,
release local mediators, bind to same (own) cell type.
receptor type and proximity => specificity
7 steps in signalling
orphan receptors (type II)
non-steroid nuclear receptors, originally did not have known ligands! (now many do)
Selective Receptor Modulators (SRMs)
type of drug, = lab-engineered NR ligands,
are tissue-selective receptor agonist or antagonists.
*can also be MIXED (agonist and antagonist for different tissues at once)
ie: tamoxifen or raloxifene (for breast cancer)
mechanism of differential tissue-selectivity for SRMs
the NR changes conformation depending on which SRM binds,
–> diff. co-regulatory proteins bind to the NR
P-Box
the site at which the sequences of different SRMs vary most.
change p-box ==> change tissue-binding characteristics
DNA-binding mechanism for NRs
NRs bind to HREs (hormone response elements) on DNA
via Zinc fingers,
(type I: palindromes; type 2: direct repeats)
*few DNA seqs bind NRs, BUT most that DO encode transcription factors, so can influence more genes!
Hormone Response Element (HRE)
a sequence of DNA which binds NRs,
*NOT unique across tissues/genes, get specificity elsewhere
PPAR alpha
NR in liver, binds fibrates;
regulates FA oxidation, lowers serum lipid levels;
(increase lipid oxidation, lower circulating triglycerides)