Cell Signaling And Communication AP Prep Questions

Upon ingestion of bacteria, white blood cells release a chemical messenger into the blood stream that causes the synthesis of inflammation response proteins by liver cells. What is this an example of?

• autocrine signaling

• endocrine signaling

• paracrine signaling

• synaptic signaling

Molecules do not flow between the endothelial cells in the brain capillaries. The membranes of the cells must be joined by what?

• gap junctions

• ligand-gated channels

• synapses

• tight junctions

What are the possible benefits of having autocrine signaling?

• Autocrine signaling helps to communicate with distantly located cells.

• Autocrine signaling connects nearby cells.

• Autocrine signaling helps to amplify the signal by inducing more signaling production

  from the cell itself.

• Autocrine signaling is specific only for the cell that produced it.

If a chemical is an inhibitor of the enzyme adenylyl cyclase, which of the following steps in the G-protein signaling pathway would be blocked?

• activation of gene transcription

• exchange of GTP for GDP

• ligand bound receptor activation of G-protein

• synthesis of CAMP

Thyroid hormone is a lipid-soluble signal molecule that crosses the membrane of all cells. Why would a cell fail to respond to the thyroid hormone?

• The MAPK cascade leading to cell activation is defective in the target cells.

• The DNA sequence it binds to underwent a mutation.

• There is no intracellular receptor for thyroid hormone in the cell.

• The second messenger does not recognize the signal from the receptor.

The poison from the krait snake's bungarotoxin binds irreversibly to acetylcholine receptors, interfering with acetylcholine binding at the synapse. What then do you predict is the effect of bungarotoxin binding on the post synaptic cell?

• cAMP production is inhibited.

• Bungarotoxin G-proteins are not activated.

• Ion movement in the cell is inhibited.

• Phosphorylation cascade is inhibited.

In autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), lymphocytes which multiplied during an infection persist in the body and damage tissue. The syndrome is caused by a mutation in the FAS gene which encodes a cell surface receptor. Which signaling pathway does the receptor initiate?

• activated metabolism

• apoptosis

• cell division

• cell differentiation

Place the following events in their sequential order:

1. Protein kinase A is activated.

2. Glycogen breaks down.

3. Epinephrine binds to G-protein-linked receptor.

4. G-protein activates adenylyl cyclase.

5. GTP is exchanged for GDP on the G-protein.

6. ATP is converted into cAMP.

• 1, 3, 5, 4, 6, 2

• 3, 5, 4, 1, 6, 2

• 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 2

• 3, 5, 4, 6, 1, 2

The RAS protein is a G-protein connected with the response to RTKs that initiates the

MAPK kinase cascade when GDP is released and GTP uploaded. Mutations in the RAS

protein that interfere with its GTPase activity are common in cancer.

What is the connection between the inability of RAS to hydrolyze GTP and uncontrolled

cell proliferation?

• RAS, when bound to GTP, becomes permanently inactive even in the presence of the

  ligand and no longer regulates cell division.

• RAS, when bound to GTP, becomes permanently active even in the absence of the

  ligand and no longer regulates cell division.

• RAS, when bound to GTP, forms a dimer after binding to the ligand and causes

  uncontrolled division, but it remains inactive when the ligand is absent.

• RAS, when bound to GTP, does not form a dimer after binding to the ligand but

  stimulates downstream signaling to occur and causes uncontrolled cell division.

Common medications called ß-blockers bind to G-protein-linked receptors in heart muscles, blocking adrenaline. They are prescribed to patients with high blood pressure. Based on your understanding of G-protein-linked receptors, can you formulate a hypothesis on their mechanism of action? Evaluate and select from the options given below.

• Adrenaline has a stimulatory effect on heart rate and blood pressure. ß-blockers are antagonistic to adrenaline and produce an inhibitory effect.

• Adrenaline has both a stimulatory and an inhibitory effect on heart rate and blood pressure. ß-blockers bind to G-protein-linked receptors and stimulate the inhibitory effect of adrenaline.

• Adrenaline has an inhibitory effect on heart rate and blood pressure. ß-blockers have a synergistic effect along with adrenaline, producing an inhibitory effect.

• Adrenaline has both a stimulatory and an inhibitory effect on heart rate and blood pressure. ß-blockers bind to G-protein-linked receptors and intervene with the inhibitory effect of adrenaline.