BIOL 1201 : Final Exam Biol
Document Summary
Importance of signaling mechanisms: nobel prizes, 5 in the last 18 years. Our ability to smell is due to g-proteins. We active the g-protein by adding gtp to it. G-protein then binds to the inactive enzyme, which causes it to become active, which causes a cellular response. Typically only does one thing (activates one enzyme) Steps: the signal molecule binds to the receptor (reception) and the inactive g-protein binds to the receptor-signal molecule. Typically membrane bound receptors that come in pairs, but slightly separate from each other. In turns out you have to have two signal molecules bind to the binding site, which creates a dimer. Key to how our nervous system works. Typically a facilitated diffusion ion channel: most facilitated diffusion channels close when there is no signal molecule attached to it and open when the signal molecule is binded to it, large protein structure embedded in the membrane.
