CH 15

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Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways
1.TB 15.001. The process that allows cells to be closely regulated with respect to cell growth and division
and also to respond appropriately to a specific environmental stimulus is called _______.
cell processing
cell signaling
cell regulation
organization
signalization
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.Introduction
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2.TB 15.002. How do cells in the body of a multicellular organism usually communicate with each other?
intracellular messenger molecules
direct connection by cells through long projections
extracellular messenger molecules
electrical signals between cells
ion transport between cells
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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3.TB 15.003. In autocrine signaling, _________.

1) the cell producing the messenger expresses receptors on its surface that can respond to
that messenger
2) the messenger molecules travel only short distances through the extracellular space to
cells that are in close proximity to the cell that is generating the message
3) the messenger molecules reach their target cells via passage through bloodstream
4) the messenger molecules are usually limited in their ability to travel around the body
because they are inherently unstable or they are degraded by enzymes or they bind to
extracellular matrix
1
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4
1 and 2
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
4.TB 15.004. In endocrine signaling, _________.
1) the cell producing the messenger expresses receptors on its surface that can
respond to that messenger
2) the messenger molecules travel only short distances through the extracellular space
to cells that are in close proximity to the cell that is generating the message
3) the messenger molecules reach their target cells via passage through bloodstream
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4) the messenger molecules are usually limited in their ability to travel around the
body because they are inherently unstable or they are degraded by enzymes or they
bind to extracellular matrix
1
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1 and 3
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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5.TB 15.005. What allows cells to respond to an extracellular messenger molecule?

They must have ion channels.
They must have a lipid bilayer that allows a response.
They must have receptor proteins exposed on the inner plasma membrane surface.
They must express receptors that specifically recognize and bind that particular messenger molecule.
They must have nuclear membranes.
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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6.TB 15.006. What word below is used to describe extracellular messenger molecules that bind to receptors
at the extracellular surface of the responding cell?
ligand
bindand
binder
ligature
receptand
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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7.TB 15.007. What is the response of a receptor to the binding of a ligand to it at the cell's extracellular
surface?
It denatures.
The receptor relays a signal across the membrane to the receptor's cytoplasmic domain at the inner
membrane surface.
The receptor relays a signal elsewhere on the membrane to the receptor's extracellular domain at the
outer membrane surface.
It flips through the membrane.
It dissociates immediately from the ligand.
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Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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8.TB 15.008. Sometimes an enzyme is activated by a receptor and brings about the cellular response by
generating a second messenger. Such an enzyme is called a(n) __________.
activator
effector
affector
refractor
generator
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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9.TB 15.009. No matter how the signal initiated by the binding of a ligand is transmitted (via a second
messenger or by protein recruitment), what is the outcome of that signal?
A protein in the middle of an intracellular signaling pathway is activated.
A protein at the top of an intracellular signaling pathway is activated.
A protein at the top of an extracellular signaling pathway is activated.
A protein at the top of an intracellular signaling pathway is deactivated.
A protein at the bottom of an intracellular signaling pathway is activated.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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10.TB 15.010. Which of the following is (are) not characteristics of the pathways activated by second
messengers?
Each signaling pathway consists of a series of distinct proteins that operate in sequence.
Each protein in the pathway typically acts by altering the conformation of the previous (upstream)
protein in the series, an event that activates or inhibits the protein.
Alterations in the conformations of signaling proteins are often accomplished by protein kinases and
protein phosphatases that, respectively, add or remove phosphate groups from other proteins.
Some phosphatases and protein kinases in the pathway have numerous proteins as their substrates;
others act on only a single protein substrate or a single amino acid of a protein substrate.
Many of the protein substrates of the pathway enzymes are enzymes themselves, like other kinases
and phosphatases, but they include ion channels, transcription factors and various regulatory
molecules.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Difficult
15.1
11.TB 15.011. What kinds of responses are not initiated when signals traveling down signaling pathways
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reach their target proteins, which are usually involved in basic cellular processes?
a change in gene expression
a change in ion permeability
cessation of DNA synthesis and degradation of DNA
the death of the cell
an alteration of the activity of metabolic enzymes
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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12.TB 15.012. At which site do virtually all of the signals that regulate the activities in which a cell is engaged
originate?
at the cell surface
in the nucleus
in the nucleolus
in the endoplasmic reticulum
in the cell wall
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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13.TB 15.013. The overall process in which information carried by extracellular messenger molecules is
translated into changes that occur inside the cell is called ___________.
signal digestion
signal destruction
signal interaction
signal transduction
signal induction
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
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14.TB 15.014. If the receptor is degraded along with its ligand after internalization, what is the effect on the
cell's ability to respond to a hormone?
1) The response is enhanced.
2) The cell has increased sensitivity to subsequent stimuli.
3) The cell has decreased sensitivity to subsequent stimuli.
4) The cell exhibits no change in responsiveness to subsequent stimuli.
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1 and 2
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Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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15.TB 15.015. Proteins interact with one another, or with components of the cellular membrane, by means of
_________.
1) specific types of interaction domains
2) intercellular glue
3) the SH3 domain
4) peptide bonds
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1 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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16.TB 15.016. Most protein kinases transfer phosphate groups to which amino acid(s)?
1) glutamate
2) threonine
3) serine
4) tryptophan
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2 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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17.TB 15.017. Which amino acids are known to be phosphorylated by protein kinases?
tyrosine, threonine, glycine
threonine, serine, tryptophan
serine, threonine, tyrosine
phenylalanine, serine, tyrosine
serine, leucine, tyrosine
Ans: C
15.1
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18.TB 15.018. Protein kinases and phosphatases can be _________.

1) soluble cytoplasmic proteins
2) soluble membrane proteins
3) integral membrane proteins
4) integral cytoplasmic proteins
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1 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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19.TB 15.019. Which molecule below is unlikely to act as either a neurotransmitter or hormone?
glucose
glycine
dopamine
eicosanoids
thyroid hormone
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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20.TB 15.020. Which molecule below does not act as a neurotransmitter and a hormone?
glutamate
glycine
dopamine
eicosanoids
thyroid hormone
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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21.TB 15.021. From what molecule are the steroids derived?

CO2
cholesterol
glucose
phospholipids
glucagons
Ans: B
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Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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22.TB 15.022. Which signaling molecules are nonpolar molecules containing 20 carbons that are derived from
a fatty acid named arachidonic acid?
eicosanoids
steroids
acetylcholine
acetylsalicylic acid
epinephrine
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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23.TB 15.023. Which signaling molecules regulate a variety of processes, including pain, inflammation, blood
pressure and blood clotting?
epinephrine
acetylcholine
eicosanoids
dopamine
steroids
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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24.TB 15.024. Which of the following processes is not regulated by eicosanoids?

pain
inflammation
blood pressure
blood clotting
neurotransmission
Ans: E
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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25.TB 15.025. A number of drugs used to treat headaches and inflammation do so by __________.
inhibiting eicosanoid synthesis
activating eicosanoid synthesis
inhibiting neurotransmitter synthesis
inhibiting eicosanoid activity
activating eicosanoid activity
Ans: A
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Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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26.TB 15.026. Which of the following activities is not regulated by the wide variety of proteins and
polypeptides that are excreted into the extracellular environment?
cell division
differentiation
immune response
cell death or cell survival
excretion of sodium ions
Ans: E
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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27.TB 15.027. What allows receptors for extracellular signaling molecules present on the responding cell's
surface to recognize such molecules so readily?
They bind the signaling molecules with low affinity.
They bind the signaling molecules with high affinity.
They denature the signaling molecules.
They stabilize the signaling molecules.
They infiltrate the signaling molecules.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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28.TB 15.028. What is the immediate result once most receptor protein-tyrosine kinases bind to their ligand?
receptor trimerization
receptor dimerization
receptor denaturation
receptor dissociation
receptor tetramerization
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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29.TB 15.029. On what part of the receptor protein-tyrosine kinase is the protein kinase activity located?
1) the extracellular surface
2) the cytoplasmic region
3) within the hydrophobic portion of the lipid bilayer
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2 and 3
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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30.TB 15.030. Which cell surface receptors conduct a flow of ions across the plasma membrane when bound
to ligand?
ligand-gated channels
RTKs
G protein coupled receptors
steroid hormone receptors
GPCRs
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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31.TB 15.031. What role do activated steroid receptors play in the cell?
activation of inactive enzymes
inactivation of active enzymes
ligand-regulated transcription factors
opening of specific ion channels
activation of cytoplasmic proteins
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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32.TB 15.032. Where are steroid receptors generally located and where do they bind the steroid hormone once
it enters the cell?
They are located and bind the steroids in the cytoplasm.
They are located and bind the steroids in the middle of the cell membrane.
They are located and bind the steroids on the extracellular membrane surface.
They are located and bind the steroids on the intracellular membrane surface.
The receptors are located in the cytoplasm but they bind their ligands in the lysosomes.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.2
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33.TB 15.033. Why are G-protein coupled receptors often known as 7TM receptors?
They have 7 tyrosine-methionine dipeptides in their structure.
They have 7 transmembrane -pleated sheets.
They have 7 transmembrane -helices.
They have 7 methionine-tryptophan dipeptides in their structure.
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They have 7 nucleotides attached to their structure.

Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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34.TB 15.034. What is the largest protein superfamily encoded by animal genomes?
G-protein coupled receptors
RTKs
steroid receptors
tubulin superfamily
ligand-gated channels
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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35.TB 15.035. Which of the following are not natural ligands that bind to G-protein coupled receptors?
hormones
neurotransmitters
chemoattractants
opium derivatives
steroid hormones
Ans: E
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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36.TB 15.036. Which of the following are molecules that attract the phagocytic cells of the immune system?
hormones
neurotransmitters
chemoattractants
opium derivatives
steroid hormones
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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37.TB 15.037. What role do three of the loops on the GPCR at the outside of the cell play in the signaling
process?
Together they serve as a ligand-binding site for extracellular signaling molecules.
Together they serve as a binding site for proteins that link receptors to various signaling proteins.
Together they serve as a binding site for proteins that link receptors to various effectors in the cell.
Together they serve as a binding site for cAMP.
Together they serve as a ligand-binding site for intracellular signaling molecules.
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Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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38.TB 15.038. For many years, _______ was the only member of the GPCR superfamily to have its X-ray
crystal structure determined.
rhodopsin
the steroid receptor
the insulin receptor
the glucagon receptor
the endocrine receptor
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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39.TB 15.039. Why does rhodopsin have an unusually stable structure for a GPCR?
Its ligand is permanently bound to the protein.
A retinal group is permanently bound to the protein.
The protein molecule can only exist in a single conformation in the absence of a stimulus.
The protein molecule can only exist in a single conformation in the dark.
All of these are correct.
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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40.TB 15.040. Place the events below in the correct order.

1) G protein binds to activated receptor forming a receptor-G protein complex
2) Release of GDP by the G protein
3) Change in conformation of the cytoplasmic loops of the receptor
4) Binding of GTP by the G protein
5) Increase in the affinity of the receptor for a G protein on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane.
6) Binding of a hormone or neurotransmitter to a G-protein coupled receptor
7) Conformational shift in the subunit of the G protein
6351247
3651724
6351724
6735124
6351742
Ans: C
15.3
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41.TB 15.041. The subunits of the heterotrimeric G protein are called ___________ subunits.
, and
, and
, and
, and
, and
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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42.TB 15.042. How are G proteins held at the plasma membrane?

by weak interactions at the cytoplasmic membrane surface
by covalent interactions with transmembrane proteins via the and subunits
by covalent interactions with lipid chains attached to the and subunits
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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43.TB 15.043. Where is the guanine nucleotide-binding site of the G protein located?
on the G subunit
on the G subunit
on the G subunit
on the G subunit
on all three subunits
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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44.TB 15.044. Place the following events in the proper order.

1) Activation of one or more cellular signaling proteins.
2) Dissociation of G from the G protein complex.
3) Production of a second messenger, like cAMP.
4) Replacement of GDP by GTP on the G after interaction with an activated GPCR.
5) Conformational change in the G subunit causing a decreased affinity for the G subunit.
6) G-subunit with its attached GTP activates an effector like adenylyl cyclase.
452631
542631
462531
452316
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152436
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
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45.TB 15.045. Which heterotrimeric G proteins couple receptors to adenylyl cyclase via the activation of
GTP-bound G subunits?
Gs family
Gq family
Gi family
G12/13 family
Gr family
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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46.TB 15.046. Which heterotrimeric G proteins function by inhibiting adenylyl cyclase?

Gs family
Gq family
Gi family
G12/13 family
Gr family
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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47.TB 15.047. Which heterotrimeric G proteins are less well characterized than the other G protein families
and have had their inappropriate activation associated with excessive cell proliferation and malignant
transformations?
Gs family
Gq family
Gi family
G12/13 family
Gr family
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
48.TB 15.048. What must happen in order to prevent overstimulation by a hormone?
1) Hormones must be destroyed.
2) G proteins must be destroyed.
3) Receptors must be blocked from continuing to activate G proteins.
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4) Receptors must dimerize.

1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
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49.TB 15.049. The process that blocks active receptors from turning on additional G proteins is called
________.
hypersensitization
desensitization
hyposensitization
deactivation
sensitivitization
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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50.TB 15.050. In order to begin desensitization, the ________ domain of the activated G protein-coupled
receptor is phosphorylated by a specific enzyme called a(n) ________.
extracellular, G protein-coupled receptor kinase
extracellular, G protein-coupled receptor phosphatase
cytoplasmic, G protein-coupled receptor kinase
cytoplasmic, G protein-coupled receptor phosphatase
extracellular, GRK
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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51.TB 15.051. GRKs are a small family of ________ protein kinases, most of which are localized to the
_______ surface of the plasma membrane.
serine-threonine, cytoplasmic
serine-threonine, extracellular
tyrosine, cytoplasmic
tyrosine, extracellular
serine-tyrosine, cytoplasmic
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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52.TB 15.052. What recruits cytoplasmic GRKs (G protein-coupled receptor kinases) to the plasma
membrane?
inhibition of certain G proteins
destruction of the GPCRs
activation of GPCRs
inhibition of the GPCRs
destruction of the hormone
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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53.TB 15.053. ________ form a small group of proteins that bind to GPCRs and compete for binding to
those GPCRs with heterotrimeric G proteins.
Stablins
Arrestins
Monomeric G proteins
G protein-coupled receptor kinases
Desensitizers
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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54.TB 15.054. Arrestin binding to GPCRs __________.

causes the binding of additional G proteins
prevents further activation of additional G proteins
causes denaturation of G proteins
stabilizes G proteins
stabilizes GPCRs
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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55.TB 15.055. One could say that arrestins are __________ of heterotrimeric G-protein binding to GPCRs.
1) noncompetitive inhibitors
2) feedback inhibitors
3) allosteric inhibitors
4) competitive inhibitors
1
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3
4
1 and 3
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Ans: D
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56.TB 15.056. During desensitization, ____________.

the cell stops responding to the stimulus, while that stimulus is still acting on the outer surface of the
cell.
the cell continues responding to the stimulus, while that is still acting on the outer surface of the cell.
the cell stops responding to the stimulus, while that stimulus no longer acts on the outer surface of the
cell.
the cell starts responding to the stimulus, while that stimulus is no longer acting on the outer cell
surface.
the receptor is degraded.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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57.TB 15.057. Desensitization __________.

1) allows a cell to change its environment, rather than continuing to fire endlessly in
the presence of an unchanging environment
2) allows a cell to respond to a change in its environment, rather than continuing to
fire endlessly in the presence of an unchanging environment
3) allows a cell to die
4) allows a cell to alter its conformation
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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58.TB 15.058. While bound to phosphorylated GPCRs, to what else can arrestins bind?
G proteins
clathrin molecules in clathrin-coated pits
other arrestins
hormones
GRKs
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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59.TB 15.059. What does the interaction between arrestin and clathrin promote?
the uptake of free hormone
the uptake of phosphorylated GPCRs into the cell by exocytosis
the uptake of phosphorylated GPCRs into the cell by endocytosis
the expulsion of phosphorylated GPCRs from the cell by exocytosis
the secretion of GPCRs
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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60.TB 15.060. What happens to cells if the receptors are degraded once they are internalized?
The cells are able to make a magnified response to the same stimulus from the ligand in question.
The cells permanently lose sensitivity for the ligand in question.
The cells lose, at least temporarily, sensitivity for the ligand in question.
The cells remain sensitive to the ligand in question.
The cells expand.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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61.TB 15.061. How is signaling by an activated G subunit terminated?

The bound GTP is hydrolyzed to GMP.
The bound GDP is hydrolyzed to GTP.
The bound GTP is hydrolyzed to GDP.
The bound GDP is phosphorylated to GTP.
The G subunit releases GDP and binds GTP.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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62.TB 15.062. What, at least in part, determines the strength and duration of signaling by the G subunit of the
G protein?
1) the size of the hormone
2) the G subunit's GTP hydrolysis rate
3) the G subunits' GTP hydrolysis rate
4) the binding to adenylyl cyclase
1
2
3
4
2 and 3
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Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
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63.TB 15.063. What is responsible for hydrolyzing the GTP attached to the G subunit?
a GTPase floating freely in the cytoplasm
a GTP synthase floating freely in the cytoplasm
a GRK
a weak GTPase activity residing on the G subunit
a weak GTPase activity residing on the G subunit
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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64.TB 15.064. An activated GPCR ____________.

1) elicits responses that depend upon the G protein with which it interacts
2) can interact with different G proteins
3) can trigger the synthesis of more G proteins
4) can trigger more than one physiologic response
1
2
3
4
1, 2 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
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65.TB 15.065. What happens when an RGS protein interacts with the G subunit of the G protein?
The rate of GTPase hydrolysis by the G subunit increases.
The rate of GTPase hydrolysis by the G subunit decreases.
The rate of GTPase hydrolysis by the G subunit increases.
The rate of GTPase hydrolysis by the G subunit decreases.
There is no change in the rate of GTPase hydrolysis by the G subunit.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
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66.TB 15.066. By what mechanism does cholera toxin elicit the symptoms of cholera?
It modifies G-subunits and inhibits their GTPase activity in the cells of the intestinal epithelium.
It modifies G-subunits and raises their GTPase activity in the cells of the intestinal epithelium.
It modifies G-subunits and raises their GTPase activity in the cells of the intestinal epithelium.
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It modifies G-subunits and inhibits their GTPase activity in the cells of the intestinal epithelium.
None of these are correct.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
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67.TB 15.067. You homogenize liver tissue forming a broken-cell preparation and treat the preparation with
epinephrine and/or glucagon. What happens in the broken-cell preparation?
Nothing happens.
Phosphorylase activity decreases.
Phosphorylase activity increases.
Phosphorylase activity does not change.
Glucose polymerizes into glycogen.
Ans: C
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68.TB 15.068. What would happen to phosphorylase activity if the supernatant fraction were exposed directly
to glucagon and/or epinephrine?
1) Phosphorylase is actively and specifically denatured.
2) Phosphorylase activity decreases.
3) Phosphorylase activity increases.
4) Phosphorylase activity does not change.
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: D
15.3
A)
B)
C)
69.TB 15.069. The particulate fraction from homogenized liver was exposed directly to glucagon and/or
epinephrine and then washed by resuspension in physiological saline. The supernatant from the wash was
removed and exposed to the original soluble fraction from the liver that contained the phosphorylase. What
happened to the phosphorylase activity in the original soluble fraction?
1
2
3
Page 19
Karp 6e
D)
E)
4
1 and 2
Ans: C
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
70.TB 15.070. What would happen to phosphorylase activity if the supernatant fraction from the original liver
homogenate were exposed directly to cyclic AMP (cAMP)?
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: C
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
71.TB 15.071. Which enzymes hydrolyze specific ester bonds that connect the different building blocks that
make up a phospholipid molecule?
phospholipases
phospholipid kinases
phospholipid phosphatases
phosphatidyl phosphatases
phospholipid dephosphorylase
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
72.TB 15.072. An experiment in which acetylcholine, given to cells whose RNA nucleotide triphosphates
were previously labeled by exposure to radiolabeled orthophosphate, resulted in the radiolabeling of
membrane phospholipids like phosphatidylinositol and their derivatives, the phosphoinositides. What did
this suggest to the researchers who performed the experiment?
It suggested that lipids were synthesized by acetylcholine.
It suggested that acetylcholine had no receptors in these cells.
It suggested that inositol-containing lipids can be phosphorylated by specific lipid kinases that are
activated in response to extracellular messenger molecules like acetylcholine.
It suggested that lipids can also serve as hormones.
It suggested that contract in response to acetylcholine.
Page 20
Karp 6e
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
73.TB 15.073. What is the function of carbon number 1 on the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol?
It binds to steroid receptors.
It joins inositol to diacylglycerol.
It joins a phosphate group to diacyglycerol.
It joins glucose to diacylglycerol.
It joins two diacyglycerol molecules together.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
74.TB 15.074. What group of enzymes phosphorylates most of the carbons on inositol?
phospholipases
phosphoinositide kinases
phosphorylases
phosphodiesterases
phosphatases
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
75.TB 15.075. Which of the following is an enzyme that removes phosphate groups that have been added to
phosphoinositides?
PI 4-kinase
PIP 5-kinase
PI 3-kinase
lipid phosphatase
lipid dephosphorylase
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
76.TB 15.076. The phosphorylated inositol rings of phosphoinositides form binding sites for a particular type
of lipid-binding domain found in proteins that bind specifically to phosphoinositides. What are these
binding domains called?
pKa domains
pK domains
PH domains
PIP domains
HP domains
Page 21
Karp 6e
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
77.TB 15.077. What binds phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C- to the inner cell membrane
surface?
its interaction with cyclic cAMP
its interaction with adenylate cyclase
an interaction between its PH domain and a phosphoinositide molecule
its interaction with the fatty acid chains of diacylglycerol
its interaction with PLC
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
78.TB 15.078. What enzyme below does diacylglycerol (DAG) recruit and activate?
phosphatidylinositol (PI)-specific phospholipase C-
protein kinase A
protein kinase C
glycogen phosphorylase
phosphorylase kinase
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
79.TB 15.049. Diacylglycerol recruits and activates effector proteins that bear ________.
1) amino groups
2) a DAG binding domain
3) a PH domain
4) a C1 domain
1
2
3
4
2 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
80.TB 15.080. Why do phorbol esters activate protein kinase C?

They resemble cAMP.
They resemble diacylglycerol.
Page 22
Karp 6e
C)
D)
E)
They resemble inositol triphosphate.

They degrade diacylglycerol.
They activate diacylglycerol.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
81.TB 15.081. What happens to cells treated with phorbol esters?

1) The cells lose growth control.
2) The cells stop dividing.
3) The cells recover normal growth control.
4) The cells permanently become malignant.
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
82.TB 15.082. You have cultured some cells in the presence of phorbol esters temporarily. What happens to
the cells when you remove the phorbol esters from the culture medium?
The cells become malignant.
The cells recover their normal growth properties.
The cells exhibit no change in their behavior.
The cells shrink.
The cells exhibit apoptosis.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
83.TB 15.083. What compound below is often produced at the front of a cell by a localized lipid kinase and
then subsequently degraded at the rear and sides of the cell by a localized lipid phosphatase?
1) PIP2
2) PIP3
3) IP3
4) inositol triphosphate
1
2
3
4
3 and 4
Page 23
Karp 6e
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
84.TB 15.084. The effect of inositol triphosphate is usually transient because __________.
it is so stable
it is rapidly inactivated enzymatically
it is slowly activated enzymatically
it is so big
it is so small
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
85.TB 15.085. Chemotaxis depends on the localized production of phosphoinositide messengers, which
_______.
1) influence the formation of actin filaments
2) influence the formation of lamellipodia
3) influence the formation ectopodia
4) initiate the movement of a cell toward its target, the chemoattractant
1
2
3
4
1, 3and 4
Ans: E
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
86.TB 15.086. Protein kinase C has a number of important roles in cellular processes, including _____.
1) cell death
2) cellular metabolism
3) cellular growth and differentiation
4) translational activation
1
2
3
4
1, 2 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
Page 24
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
87.TB 15.087. Where is the receptor for IP3 located?

on the surface of the SER
on the interior of the SER
on the plasma membrane
on the interior of the RER
on the surface of the Golgi complex
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
88.TB 15.088. In which of the following sites are calcium ions often stored in a variety of cells?
the nucleus
the peroxisomes
the nucleolus
the SER
the RER
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
89.TB 15.089. How does IP3 get from the plasma membrane where it is made to the receptor on the SER?
It is carried there by a transport molecule.
It diffuses through the cytoplasm.
It crawls through the cytoplasm.
It osmoses through the cytoplasm.
It is moved enzymatically.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
90.TB 15.090. The IP3 receptor is also a __________.

a calcium channel
a calcium pump
a sodium channel
a potassium channel
the sodium-potassium pump
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
91.TB 15.091. Receptors for a given ligand can exist in several different versions called _______.
Page 25
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
isoforms
isomers
isochthonous receptors
isometric receptors
stereophonic receptors
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
92.TB 15.092. What type of receptor binds to epinephrine?

eprinergic receptors
adrenergic receptors
steroidal receptors
isotonal receptors
rafinergic receptors
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
93.TB 15.093. _________ is a powerful neurotransmitter released by nerve cells in parts of the brain
governing emotions.
Serotonin
Adrenalin
Epinephrine
Insulin
Glucagon
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
94.TB 15.094. At least 16 different G subunits, 5 different G subunits and 11 different G subunits have been
identified. If any of these different subunits can be combined with any other subunit to make a normal G
protein consisting of one , one and one subunit, what is the maximum number of different G proteins
that can be made?
32
100
160
880
55
Ans: D
15.3
Page 26
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
95.TB 15.095. In what form do animal cells store glucose?

glucogen
glycogen
agarose
amylose
amylopectin
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
96.TB 15.096. Which cells secrete glucagon?

-cells in the pancreas
-cells in the liver
medulla cells in the adrenal gland
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
97.TB 15.097. Which cells secrete epinephrine?

cortical cells in the adrenal gland
medulla cells in the adrenal gland
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
98.TB 15.98. Which hormone is secreted by -cells in the pancreas in response to low blood glucose levels?
insulin
glycogen
glucagon
epinephrine
somatostatin
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
Page 27
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
99.TB 15.99. Which hormone, often known as the "flight-or-fight" hormone, is secreted by the adrenal gland
in stressful situations?
insulin
glycogen
glucagon
epinephrine
somatostatin
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
100.TB 15.100. What is the direct result of the action of glucagon and/or epinephrine release into the
bloodstream?
increased blood glucose levels
decreased blood glucose levels
degradation of cellular cytoplasmic proteins
no change in blood glucose levels
decreased pancreatic glucose levels
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
101.TB 15.101. Glucagon ___________.

is a small protein composed of 29 amino acids
is a small carbohydrate composed of 29 amino acids
is a small molecule that is derived from the amino acid tyrosine
is a small carbohydrate composed of 29 monosaccharides
is a small molecules derived from the amino acid cytosine
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
102.TB 15.102. Epinephrine ___________.

is a small protein composed of 29 amino acids
is a small carbohydrate composed of 29 amino acids
is a small molecule that is derived from the amino acid tyrosine
is a small carbohydrate composed of 29 monosaccharides
is a small molecules derived from the amino acid cytosine
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
Page 28
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
103.TB 15.103. The two receptors for glucagon and epinephrine differ from one another primarily in the
structure of what part of the molecule?
the structure of the ligand-binding pocket on the extracellular surface of the target cell
the structure of the ligand-binding pocket on the intracellular surface of the target cell
the cytoplasmic terminus of the receptor that interacts with the cytoskeleton
the cytoplasmic terminus of the protein that interacts with the G protein
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
104.TB 15.104. Put the following events in the right order.

1) Glycogen synthase is inactivated and phosphorylase kinase is activated.
2) Receptor activates a Gs subunit.
3) Glycogen phosphorylase is activated.
4) Receptor undergoes conformational shift.
5) cAMP binds to the protein kinase A, activating it.
6) Receptor binds glucagon or epinephrine
7) Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP that diffuses rapidly into the cytoplasm.
8) Protein kinase A phosphorylates glycogen synthase and phosphorylase kinase.
9) Adenylyl cyclase effector on inner membrane surface is activated.
642975813
462975831
642973185
645792813
813975642
Ans: A
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
105.TB 15.105. To what does cAMP bind once it is made by adenylyl cyclase in response to glucagon and/or
epinephrine?
It binds to the allosteric site on the catalytic subunits of protein kinase A.
It binds to the allosteric site on the regulatory subunits of protein kinase A.
It binds to phosphorylase kinase.
It binds to adenylyl cyclase.
It binds to the regulatory subunits of glycogen synthase.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
106.TB 15.106. What happens to protein kinase A once cAMP binds to it?
It then binds to catalytic subunits.
It then binds to regulatory subunits.
Page 29
Karp 6e
C)
D)
E)
The inhibitory regulatory subunits dissociate from the catalytic subunits, thus activating the enzyme.
The excitatory regulatory subunits dissociate from the catalytic subunits, thus inhibiting the enzyme.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
107.TB 15.107. To what amino acid residue in glycogen phosphorylase does phosphorylase kinase add a
phosphate group, stimulating the breakdown of glycogen?
a specific threonine residue
a specific glycine residue
a specific serine residue
a specific alanine residue
a specific tyrosine residue
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
108.TB 15.108. A pathway by which glucose is formed from glycolysis intermediates is called _________.
glucosis
gluconeogenesis
glucogenesis
glycogenosis
respiration
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
109.TB 15.109. In liver cells, gluconeogenesis enzymes are produced in response to what molecule?
1) cGMP
2) cAMP
3) ATP
4) DNA
1
2
3
1 and 2
4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
Page 30
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
110.TB 15.110. Which of the following is an enzyme that removes phosphate groups that have been added by
kinases?
1) phosphatase-1
2) cAMP phosphodiesterase
3) hydrolase
4) phosphorylase
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
111.TB 15.111. Which enzyme below terminates the response to cAMP through the destruction of cAMP
molecules present in the cell?
1) phosphorylase kinase
2) phosphorylase
3) cAMPglycogen synthase
4) cAMP phosphodiesterase
1
2
3
4
2 and 4
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
112.TB 15.112. Which of the following molecules has been implicated in the induced relaxation of smooth
muscle cells and may also play a key role in the vision-signaling pathway?
cGMP
cAMP
DNA
phospholipids
glycoproteins
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
113.TB 15.113. Unlike most proteins with a similar function, AKAPs have ________.
1) the same structure
Page 31
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
2) diverse structures
3) similar structures
4) identical structures
1
2
3
4
3 and 4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
114.TB 15.114. Which cells are photoreceptor cells that respond to low light intensity and give us a black-andwhite picture of our environment at night or in a darkened room?
1) cones
2) rods
4) melanocytes
5) photosynthetic cells
1
2
1 and 2
3
4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
115.TB 15.115. What is the light-sensitive protein that is found in retina rods?
rhodopsin
odopsin
erythrosin
hemiopsin
heliopsin
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
116.TB 15.116. Which cells provide us with color vision under conditions of brighter light?
1) cones
2) rods
3) melanocytes
4) photosynthetic cells
1
Page 32
Karp 6e
B)
C)
D)
E)
2
1 and 2
3
4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
117.TB 15.117. The heterotrimeric G protein that receives a signal from rhodopsin after it absorbs as little as
one photon of light is called ________.
heterotrimerin
G protein
transducin
inducin
elastin
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
118.TB 15.118. What effector is activated by an activated transducin molecule after the absorption of light by
rhodopsin?
adenylyl cyclase
guanylyl cyclase
cGMP phosphodiesterase
cAMP phosphodiesterase
guanylyl phosphatase
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
119.TB 15.119. The many different chemical structures that are perceived by the olfactory neurons are called
______.
smells
odorants
olfactorants
indicants
odontants
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
120.TB 15.120. The human genome contains roughly 1000 genes that code for odorant receptors, but only
Page 33
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
about 400 different ones are actually expressed. Thus, most of them are present as nonfunctional
________.
working genes
enterogenes
pseudogenes
oncogenes
suppressor genes
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
121.TB 15.121. Why is it likely that mice express many more odorant receptors than do humans?
Mice are smaller.
Humans depend more on their sense of smell than do mice.
Humans are bigger.
Mice depend more on their sense of smell than do humans.
Mice have smaller noses than humans.
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
122.TB 15.122. How many odorant receptors is each olfactory neuron thought to contain?
only one
a few
10
hundreds
every single one
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
123.TB 15.123. What provides humans with the perception of different aromas?
1) activation of different neurons containing the same odorant receptors
2) activation of different neurons containing different odorant receptors
3) inhibition of different neurons containing the same odorant receptors
4) inhibition of different neurons containing different odorant receptors
1
2
3
4
2 and 4
Ans: B
Page 34
Karp 6e
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
124.TB 15.124. What might cause a person to have an inability to detect a particular chemical in the
environment that most other members of the population can perceive?
mutations is a specific gene encoding the odorant receptor for that particular chemical
mutations in the genes for all odorant molecules
mutations in the genes for G proteins
mutations in the genes for neurotransmitters
mutations in the gene for one neurotransmitter
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
125.TB 15.125. Perception of sour tastes depends upon _________.

a compound interacting with a G protein coupled receptor on the receptor cell surface
sodium ions in the food that enter cation channels in the taste receptor plasma membrane, leading to a
membrane depolarization
protons in the food that enter cation channels in the taste receptor plasma membrane, leading to a
potassium ions in the food that enter cation channels in the taste receptor plasma membrane, leading
to a membrane depolarization
protons in the food that enter cation channels in the taste receptor plasma membrane, leading to a
membrane hyperpolarization
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
126.TB 15.126. There are about 30 bitter-taste receptors known as ______ and all of them are coupled to the
same ______.
T2Rs, heterotrimeric G proteins
T2Rs, monomeric G proteins
T2Rs, homotrimeric G proteins
GPCRs, heterotrimeric G proteins
GPCRs, homotrimeric G proteins
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
127.TB 15.127. Which of the following is a difference between olfactory cells and a single taste-bud cell that
evokes a bitter sensation?
Olfactory cells are smaller than taste-bud cells that respond to bitter stimuli.
Olfactory cells possess a single receptor protein, while the bitter taste-bud cells have a variety of
Page 35
Karp 6e
C)
D)
E)
different T2R receptors that respond to unrelated noxious substances.

Bitter-taste-bud cells possess a single receptor protein, while the olfactory cells have a variety of
different T2R receptors that respond to unrelated noxious substances.
Bitter-taste-bud cells possess a single receptor protein, while the olfactory cells have a variety of
different T2R receptors that respond to related noxious substances.
Bitter taste-bud cells possess receptors for many of the flavors, while olfactory cells only have
receptors for sweet taste qualities.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
128.TB 15.128. A fifth type of taste receptor cell responds to ________, generating a perception that a food is
"savory."
1) the amino acid aspartate
2) the amino acid glutamine
3) the amino acid glutamate
4) purine nucleotides
1
2
3
4
1, 3 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
129.TB 15.129. A fifth type of taste receptor cell responds to ________, generating a perception that a food is
"savory".
1) the amino acid aspartate
2) pyrimidine nucleotides
3) the amino acid glutamine
4) purine nucleotides
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A)
130.TB 15.130. How many high-affinity sweet-taste receptors have been identified?
none
Page 36
Karp 6e
B)
C)
D)
E)
30
1
10
3
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
131.TB 15.131. Where are the olfactory receptor cells located?

the brain
the nasal septum
the nasal mucosa
the surface of the tongue
the nasal serosa
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
132.TB 15.132. Why do colds cause us to lose some of our appreciation for the taste of food?
The symptoms of colds interfere with the stimuli reaching the taste bud receptors, thus dulling the
perception of taste.
The symptoms of colds prevent stimuli from reaching olfactory neurons efficiently, thus dulling the
perception of taste.
Cold viruses raise the firing threshold of olfactory neurons, thus dulling the perception of taste.
Cold viruses lower the firing threshold of olfactory neurons, thus dulling the perception of taste.
Cold viruses denature olfactory neurons, thus dulling the perception of taste.
Ans: B
15.3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
133.TB 15.133. _________ are enzymes that phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on protein substrates.
Protein tyrosinases
Protein-tyrosine kinases
Tyrosine pronases
Proteokinases
Tyrokinases
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
134.TB 15.134. Which type of protein-tyrosine kinase is regulated indirectly by extracellular signals?
1) receptor protein-tyrosine kinases
Page 37
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
2) RTKs
3) cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinases
4) nuclear protein-tyrosine kinases
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
135.TB 15.135. Which of the following features would be a requirement for a receptor that exhibits ligandmediated dimerization?
The ligand has only one binding site for receptors.
The ligand has two binding sites for receptors.
The receptor must have a phenylalanine residue in a specific location.
The receptor must have a molecular weight of 50,000 daltons.
Ligand binding causes a conformational shift that reveals a binding site for another receptor.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
136.TB 15.136. Which of the following supports the ligand-mediated model of receptor dimerization?
Some growth and differentiation factors like PDGF or CSF-1 are composed of two similar or
identical disulfide-linked subunits, each of which has a binding site for a receptor.
Ligands have been found to be small proteins.
Ligands have been found to be steroid hormones.
Ligands were found to bind to each other
Receptors have been shown to have multiple binding sites for ligands.
Ans: A
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
137.TB 15.137. Which statement below is an accurate description of receptor-mediated dimerization?

Ligands act as allosteric regulators that turn on the ability of their receptors to form dimers.
Ligands act as allosteric inhibitors that turn on the ability of their receptors to form dimers.
Ligands act as allosteric inhibitors that turn off the ability of their receptors to form dimers.
Ligands act as allosteric regulators that turn off the ability of their receptors to form dimers.
Ligands act as bridging factors that allow the receptors to dimerize.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
Page 38
Karp 6e
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
138.TB 15.138. Once the kinase domain of receptor protein-tyrosine kinase has been activated, what does the
activated receptor protein-tyrosine kinase do?
The receptor subunits denature.
Each receptor subunit phosphorylates its partner on tyrosine residues found in regions adjacent to the
kinase domain.
Each receptor subunit phosphorylates itself on tyrosine residues found in regions adjacent to the
kinase domain.
The receptor subunits dephosphorylate each other.
The receptor subunits refold into a more effective conformation.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
139.TB 15.139. Where were SH2 domains first identified?

as part of protein-tyrosine kinases encoded by the genome of E. coli
as part of protein-tyrosine kinases encoded by the genome of oncogenic viruses
as part of the gene for rRNA in the large ribosomal subunit
as part of protein-tyrosine kinases encoded by the human genome
as part of the DNA polymerase molecule
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
140.TB 15.140. What determines the specificity of the interactions of SH2 proteins with phosphorylated
tyrosine residues in proteins?
the phosphorylated tyrosine alone
the phosphate-sugar backbone
the amino acid sequence immediately adjacent to the phosphorylated tyrosine residues
the nucleic acid sequence immediately adjacent to the phosphorylated tyrosine residues
the size of the SH2 proteins
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
141.TB 15.141. Phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain-containing proteins bind to phosphotyrosine residues
that are part of which of the following motifs?
asparagine-proline-X-tyrosine motif
adenine-guanine-cytosine-X-tyrosine motif
asparagine-thymidine-X-tyrosine motif
adenine-proline-X-tyrosine motif
aspartic acid-proline-X-tyrosine motif
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Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
142.TB 15.142. Which of the following molecules functions as a linker enabling two or more signaling proteins
to become joined together as part of a signaling complex? They contain an SH2 domain and one or more
additional protein-protein interaction domains.
adaptor proteins
docking proteins
transcription factors
enzymes
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
143.TB 15.143. What phosphorylates the tyrosine residues found on docking proteins?
a G protein coupled receptor
a receptor protein-tyrosine kinase
a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase
adaptor proteins
receptor protein phosphatases
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
144.TB 15.144. How do docking proteins lend versatility to the signaling process mediated by the receptor
protein-tyrosine kinase?
1) The same docking protein will have different binding affinities in different cells.
2) The ability of the receptor to turn on signaling molecules can vary with the docking proteins
expressed in a particular cell.
3) Docking proteins behave differently in different cells.
4) All of the docking proteins are continually present but they work at different times in a cell life cycle.
1
2
3
1 and 3
4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
Page 40
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
145.TB 15.145. Which of the following contains an SH2 domain together with a tyrosine phosphorylation site
that can act as a binding site for the SH2 domain of an identical molecule leading to dimerization?
adaptor proteins
docking proteins
transcription factors
enzymes
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
146.TB 15.146. What event does binding of STAT proteins to a phosphorylated receptor protein-tyrosine kinase
immediately trigger?
the dissociation of the dimerized receptor
the formation of a receptor tetramer
the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the STAT proteins
the trimerization of the STAT proteins
the release of the receptor's extracellular ligand
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
147.TB 15.147. What event is usually responsible for terminating signal transduction by RTKs?
dephosphorylation of the receptor
degradation of the ligand
receptor internalization
phosphorylation of the receptor
acetylation of the receptor
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
148.TB 15.148. What happens to an RTK after the Cbl protein has associated with it?
1) Ubiquitin is denatured.
2) Ubiquitin is attached to the RTK.
3) Chaperonins are denatured.
4) Chaperonins are attached to the RTK.
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
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Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
149.TB 15.149. ________ is a small protein that is linked covalently to other proteins, thereby marking those
proteins for internalization or degradation.
Chaperonin
Ubiquitin
Proinsulin
Transcriptin
Tubulin
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
150.TB 15.150. Viruses that carry their genetic information in the form of RNA are called ________.
viria
retroviruses
reverse transcriptases
retrons
provirions
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
151.TB 15.151. Genes that enable viruses to transform normal cells into tumor cells are called _________.
oncogenes
cancogenes
haplogenes
tumor enhancer genes
transformer genes
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
152.TB 15.152. What is the original source of the retroviral RAS gene?
the virus itself
the mammalian hosts of the virus
amphibians
bacteria
cold viruses
Ans: B
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Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
153.TB 15.153. What kind of enzyme is the RAS gene product, the Ras protein?
an ATPase
a kinase
a phosphodiesterase
a GTPase
a phosphatase
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
154.TB 15.154. What holds Ras at the inner surface of the plasma membrane?
weak interactions with the phospholipid head groups
weak interactions with integral membrane proteins
hydrophilic interactions of the Ras protein with the interior of the phospholipid bilayer
attachment to a lipid group that is embedded in the inner leaflet of the bilayer
attachment to a carbohydrate group that is embedded in the inner leaflet of the bilayer
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
155.TB 15.155. How does Ras differ from other G proteins (GTPases) involved in the control of cell
processes?
It has faster reaction rates.
It has slower reaction rates.
It has one small subunit, instead of three.
It has five subunits instead of three.
It is much less specific than the other G proteins.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
156.TB 15.156. How is Ras activity turned off?

It is turned off by phosphorylation.
It is turned off by hydrolysis of its bound GTP to GDP.
It is turned off by hydrolysis of its bound GDP to GTP.
It is turned off by an allosteric inhibitor.
It is turned off by hydrolysis of its bound GTP to GMP.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
Page 43
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15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
157.TB 15.157. What is the effect of GAPs on the G protein-mediated response?

GAPs dramatically lengthen the duration of the response.
GAPs dramatically shorten the duration of the response.
GAPs have no effect on the response.
GAPs speed up the response.
GAPs make the G protein widen its substrate profile.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
158.TB 15.158. What is the name of benign tumors that can form along the sheaths lining the nerve trunks?
neurons
neurofibromas
neuromas
fibromas
sheathomas
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
159.TB 15.159. Why does the Ras G protein pick up GTP so rapidly after the release of GDP?
GTP is present at relatively high concentration in the cell.
GTP is present at relatively low concentration in the cell.
GTP is present at moderate concentration in the cell.
Other GTP binding proteins passively transfer GTP to Ras.
Other GTP binding proteins actively transfer GTP to Ras.
Ans: A
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
160.TB 15.160. Which molecules below accelerate the ability of monomeric G proteins to hydrolyze GTP to
GDP, thus inactivating the G protein?
1) GAPs
2) Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors
3) GEFs
4) GDIs
1
2
3
4
2 and 3
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Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
161.TB 15.161. Which molecules below bind to an inactive monomeric G protein and stimulate the
dissociation of bound GDP, which ultimately results in the G protein being activated?
GTPase-activating proteins
Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors
Guanine nucleotide-dissociation inhibitors
GAPs
GNEs
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
162.TB 15.162. Which molecules below inhibit the release of a bound GDP from a monomeric G protein, thus
maintaining the protein in the inactive, GDP-bound state?
1) GAPs
2) Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors
3) GEFs
4) GDIs
1
2
3
4
2 and 3
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
163.TB 15.163. The Ras G protein is a key component of a cascade that plays a key role in regulating vital
activities like cell proliferation and differentiation. What is the name of the cascade?
1) the Ras-GEF cascade
2) the Ras mucilage-activated protein kinase cascade
3) the Ras-MAP kinase cascade
1
2
3
1 and 3
1 and 2
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
Page 45
Karp 6e
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
164.TB 15.164. Place the following steps in the MAP kinase cascade in the proper order.
1) Raf is phosphorylated by several protein kinases in a process that is likely to
involve protein-protein interactions.
2) MEK phosphorylates and activates a MAP kinase.
3) The phosphorylated tyrosine residues of the receptor are bound by the Grb2-Sos
complex formed in the cytoplasm, recruiting it to the inner surface of the plasma
membrane, close to Ras.
4) Activated Raf, a serine-threonine protein kinase, phosphorylates the protein kinase
MEK.
5) Ras binds to Raf, a signaling protein.
6) Sos causes Ras to exchange GDP for GTP, activating it.
7) MAP kinase moves into the nucleus where it phosphorylates and activates specific
transcription factors.
8) An extracellular signal like EGF or PDGF binds to its receptor, activating the
receptor.
85361427
83657241
83651427
83645217
83754126
Ans: C
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
165.TB 15.165. Which of the following enzymes does not form a part of the core of the MAP kinase pathway?
MAPKKK
MAPKKKK
MAPKK
MAPK
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
166.TB 15.166. In cells exposed to stressful stimuli, like X-rays or damaging chemicals, what response does
the MAP kinase cascade coordinate?
cell proliferation
withdrawal from the cell cycle
rapid differentiation
slowing of the Krebs cycle
a loss of sensory ability
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Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
167.TB 15.167. What is the reason for the withdrawal of cells from the cell cycle after exposure to stressful
stimuli, like X-rays and damaging chemicals?
It gives the cell time to repair damage resulting from such adverse conditions.
It allows the cell to initiate programmed cell death.
It allows cells to initiate sodium transport.
It allows the cell to secrete defensive chemicals.
It gives the cell time to switch its developmental pathways.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
168.TB 15.168. Specificity in MAP kinase pathways is sometimes achieved by spatial localization of the
pathway's component proteins. Spatial localization of these components is done by structural (i.e.,
nonenzymatic) proteins called _____________.
sequestration proteins
partitioning proteins
scaffolding proteins
framework proteins
spatial organization proteins
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
169.TB 15.169. ________ are examples of ________; similar proteins play a role in routing signals through
one of the various MAP kinase pathways.
1) AKAPs, scaffolding proteins
2) phosphatase inhibitors, scaffolding proteins
3) AKAPs, extracellular signals
4) PKA-anchoring proteins, scaffolding proteins
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
170.TB 15.170. What is the response of the pancreas to high blood-glucose levels?
Page 47
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
The cells of the pancreas respond by secreting insulin.

The cells of the pancreas respond by secreting glucagon.
The cells of the pancreas respond by secreting glucagon.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
171.TB 15.171. Two heterodimers of the insulin receptor are held together by ____ between the _______.
ionic bonds, chains
ionic bonds, chains
disulfide bonds, chains
disulfide bonds, chains
disulfide bonds, chain of one heterodimer and the chain of the other
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
172.TB 15.172. After IRSs bind to the insulin receptor, what binds to them?
1) SH2 domain-containing signaling proteins
2) PIP2
3) PIP3
4) PTB domain-containing proteins
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: A
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
173.TB 15.173. What part of the IRSs binds to the insulin receptor?
the SH2 domain
the PTB domain
the PH domain
the C-terminal tail
the N-terminal leader sequence
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
Page 48
Karp 6e
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
174.TB 15.174. What part of the insulin-receptor substrates may interact with phospholipids present at the
inner leaflet of the plasma membrane?
1) an N-terminal PH domain
2) a PTB domain
3) a long tail containing tyrosine phosphorylation sites
4) a C-terminal PH domain
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
175.TB 15.175. What part of an insulin-receptor substrate binds to tyrosine phosphorylation sites on the
activated insulin receptor?
an N-terminal PH domain
a PTB domain
a long tail containing tyrosine phosphorylation sites
a C-terminal PH domain
a PKB domain
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
176.TB 15.176. In the plasma membrane's cytosolic leaflet, PIP2 and PIP3 provide binding sites for signaling
proteins containing what domain?
PH domain
PTB domain
SH2 domain
SH3 domain
PKB domain
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
177.TB 15.177. What is responsible for insulin-dependent glucose transport from the blood?
glucagon
the Na+-K+ pump
the GLUT4 glucose transporter
Page 49
Karp 6e
D)
E)
the Na+-glucose cotransporter

the GLUT4 glutamine transporter
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
178.TB 15.178. Where is the GLUT4 glucose transporter generally located in the absence of insulin?
in membrane vesicles in the cytoplasm of insulin-responsive cells
in the plasma membrane of insulin-responsive cells
in membrane vesicles in the cytoplasm of insulin-resistant cells
in the plasma membrane of insulin-resistant cells
in the RER of insulin-resistant cells
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
179.TB 15.179. You have produced antibodies against the GLUT4 glucose transporter and labeled them with a
red fluorescent dye. You culture the cells in the absence of insulin and after a 30-minute incubation period,
you fix the cells and treat them with the fluorescent antibody. What do you see when you look at the cells
in the fluorescence microscope?
The cells are uniformly red; the antibodies are equally distributed between the cell cytoplasm and
membrane.
The red fluorescent label is concentrated in the cytoplasm around membrane vesicles.
The red fluorescent label is concentrated on the surface of the cell in the plasma membrane.
The red fluorescent label is concentrated inside the nucleus.
The green fluorescent label is concentrated in the cytoplasm around membrane vesicles.
Ans: B
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
180.TB 15.180. You have produced antibodies against the GLUT4 glucose transporter and labeled them with a
green fluorescent dye. You culture the cells in the presence of insulin and after a 30-minute incubation
period, you fix the cells and treat them with the fluorescent antibody. What do you see when you look at
the cells in the fluorescence microscope?
The cells are uniformly green; the antibodies are equally distributed between the cell cytoplasm and
membrane.
The green fluorescent label is concentrated in the cytoplasm around membrane vesicles.
The red fluorescent label is concentrated on the surface of the cell in the plasma membrane.
The green fluorescent label is concentrated inside the nucleus.
The green fluorescent label is concentrated on the surface of the cell in the plasma membrane.
Ans: E
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Karp 6e
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
181.TB 15.181. What evidence below would suggest that GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane
depends upon PKB activation?
Overexpression of PKB leads to GLUT4 retention in the cytoplasm.
Overexpression of PKB leads to GLUT4 translocation.
Underexpression of PKB leads to GLUT4 translocation.
Underexpression of PKB leads to GLUT4 retention in the cytoplasm.
PKB binds very tightly to insulin.
Ans: B
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
182.TB 15.182. The enzyme below that has been identified as a negative regulator of glycogen synthase is
______.
glycogen phosphorylase
glycogen phosphorylase kinase
glycogen synthase kinase-3
insulin synthase kinase
protein kinase A
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
183.TB 15.183. What is responsible for deactivating glycogen synthase kinase-3?

its phosphorylation by PKB
its dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase 1
its dephosphorylation by PKB
its phosphorylation by protein phosphatase 1
its degradation by PKB
Ans: A
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
184.TB 15.184. Type I diabetes is caused by ________.

degradation of insulin in the bloodstream
an inability to produce insulin
a decrease in the ability of target cells for insulin to respond to the presence of the hormone
insulin resistance
an overproduction of insulin
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
Page 51
Karp 6e
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
185.TB 15.185. Which of the following treatments can significantly increase the life span of an animal?
1) reducing their food intake
2) increasing their food intake
3) calorie restriction
4) calorie derestriction
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
186.TB 15.186. Which treatment below has been shown to increase the life span of a worm or a fruit fly?
1) decreasing the level of insulin circulating in their bloodstream
2) increasing the level of insulin circulating in their bloodstream
3) a decrease in the level of insulin-like growth factors circulating in their bloodstream
4) an increase in the level of insulin-like growth factors circulating in their bloodstream
1
2
3
4
1 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
187.TB 15.187. Humans that live exceptionally long lives ___________.

1) often exhibit unusually high insulin sensitivity
2) often exhibit unusually low insulin sensitivity
3) have tissues that respond fully to relatively low circulating insulin levels
4) have tissues that respond minimally to relatively low circulating insulin levels
1
2
3
4
1 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
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Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
188.TB 15.188. Just as increased ________ is associated with _____ health, increased _______ is associated
with _______ health.
insulin sensitivity, poor, insulin resistance, good
insulin resistance, good, insulin sensitivity, poor
insulin resistance, poor, insulin sensitivity, good
insulin resistance, poor, glucagon sensitivity, good
glucagon resistance, poor, glucagon sensitivity, good
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
189.TB 15.189. Calorie restriction in laboratory animals leads to ________.

1) decreased insulin levels
2) increased insulin levels
3) increased insulin sensitivity
4) decreased insulin sensitivity
1
2
3
4
1 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
190.TB 15.190. Which of the following signaling mechanisms is seen primarily in plants and not in animals?
protein histidine kinases
phosphoinositide messengers
cyclic nucleotides
receptor tyrosine kinases
protein histamine kinases
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
191.TB 15.191. The receptor domain of protein histidine kinases in plants is located on the _____ surface of
the plasma membrane, while the histidine kinase domain is found on the ______ surface of the membrane.
cytoplasmic, cytoplasmic
extracellular, cytoplasmic
cytoplasmic, extracellular
extracellular, extracellular
extracellular, intercellular
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Karp 6e
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
192.TB 15.192. The Etr1 gene product in plants is a receptor for the gas ______, a plant hormone that regulates
a diverse array of developmental processes, like seed germination, _____ and ______.
ethylene, flowering, stem growth
methylene, flowering, fruit ripening
ethylene, flowering, fruit ripening
ethanol, flowering, fruit ripening
ethanol, stem growth, fruit ripening
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
193.TB 15.193. The concentration of calcium ions in the ER lumen, the plant cell vacuole and the extracellular
space are on average more than _______ times higher than in the cytosol.
10
100
1,000
10.000
1,000,000
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
194.TB 15.194. What is the major difference between phospholipase C- and phospholipase C-?
Phospholipase C- is bigger than phospholipase C-.
Phospholipase C- is smaller than phospholipase C-.
Phospholipase C- has an SH2 domain that allows it to bind to an activated, phosphorylated RTK,
and phospholipase C- does not.
Phospholipase C- has an SH2 domain that allows it to bind to an activated, phosphorylated RTK,
and phospholipase C- does not.
Phospholipase C- has the ability to bind ATP, while phospholipase C- cannot.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
195.TB 15.195. Following a nerve impulse, what triggers the opening of plasma membrane voltage-gated Ca2+
channels?
membrane hyperpolarization
Page 54
Karp 6e
B)
C)
D)
E)
binding of an appropriate ligand

membrane hypopolarization
binding of K+ ions
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
196.TB 15.196. Phospholipase C- is activated __________.

1) by Ca2+ ions
2) by Ras-GTP
3) indirectly by the interaction of a GPCR with an extracellular messenger molecule
4) directly by the interaction of a GPCR with an extracellular messenger molecule
1
2
3
4
1 and 3
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
197.TB 15.197. How is the distribution of free calcium ions in the living cell detected?
fluorescent probes that emit light in the presence of calcium ions
antibodies bound to ferritin
an electron microscope
autoradiography and the distribution of radioisotope
NMR imaging
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
198.TB 15.198. What generally triggers the release of calcium ions by ryanodine receptors?
potassium efflux
sodium influx
an action potential
IP3 release
IP3 uptake
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
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Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
199.TB 15.199. Among the agents that can cause ryanodine receptors to open are _______ ions, in a
phenomenon called _______.
calcium, calcium-integrated calcium release
calcium, calcium-induced calcium release
potassium, potassium-induced calcium release
chlorine, chlorine-induced calcium release
copper, copper-induced calcium release
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
200.TB 15.200. Why are waves of calcium that enter cells and are propagated through the cytoplasmic
compartment, as happens within the first minute or so after fertilization, generally transient?
1) The ions are destroyed as soon as they enter the cell.
2) The ions are changed to calcium salts as soon as they enter the cell.
3) The Ca2+ ions are rapidly pumped out of the cytosol and back into the ER and/or the extracellular
space.
4) The Ca2+ ions are rapidly pumped out of the cytosol and back into the nucleus.
1
2
3
4
3 and 4
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
201.TB 15.201. A wave of Ca2+ ions enters a(n) _____ cell after _______; it is induced by the ______ contact
with the plasma membrane.
egg, fertilization, sperm's
sperm, fertilization, egg's
egg, mitosis, sperm's
sperm, mitosis, egg's
egg, fertilization, egg's
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
202.TB 15.202. What is activated by calcium ions entering an egg cell just after fertilization?
protein kinase A
insulin
cyclin-dependent kinases that drive the zygote toward its first mitotic division
cyclin-dependent kinases that drive the zygote toward its first meiotic division
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Karp 6e
E)
glucagon-dependent kinases that drive the zygote toward its first mitotic division
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
203.TB 15.203. What is the name of the phenomenon in which depletion of calcium levels in the ER triggers a
response leading to the opening of calcium channels in the plasma membrane?
1) store-operated calcium efflux
2) SOCE
3) store-operated calcium entry
1
2
3
2 and 3
1 and 2
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
204.TB 15.204. What can cause the stockpile of intracellular calcium ions to be depleted?
1) periods of repeated cellular responses
2) a paucity of cellular responses
3) crystallization of calcium ions with chlorine ions
4) crystallization of calcium with phosphate ions
1
2
3
4
3 and 4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
205.TB 15.205. How are ER stores of calcium ions replenished by store-operated calcium entry (SOCE)?
A)
1) Low calcium levels in the ER lead to the opening of plasma membrane calcium
channels.
2) Low calcium levels in the ER lead to the opening of ER calcium channels.
3) Calcium ions introduced into the cytosol by plasma membrane calcium channels are
pumped back into the ER.
4) Calcium ions introduced into the ER by plasma membrane calcium channels are
pumped back into the cytosol.
1
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Karp 6e
B)
C)
D)
E)
2
3
4
1 and 3
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
206.TB 15.206. The depletion of calcium ions in the ER leads to the clustering within the ER membrane of a
________ protein called ______; at the same time, a protein called ______ is undergoing a corresponding
redistribution within the ______.
Ca2+-sensing, Ora1, STIM1, plasma membrane
Ca2+-sensing, STIM1, Ora1, plasma membrane
Ca2+-sensing, STIM1, Ora1, ER membrane
Ca2+-denaturing, Ora1, STIM1, plasma membrane
Ca2+-denaturing, STIM1, Ora1, plasma membrane
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
207.TB 15.207. Ora1 is a tetrameric _______ that has been identified as being involved in a particular type of
inherited human immune deficiency that results from a lack of Ca2+ stores in ________.
Ca2+-ion channel, B lymphocytes
Ca2+-ion pump, B lymphocytes
Ca2+-ion channel, T lymphocytes
Ca2+-ion pump, T lymphocytes
Ca2+-ion channel, macrophages
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
208.TB 15.208. When ER and plasma membranes come into close proximity such that STIM1 and Ora1
clusters come into contact with one another, what reputedly happens?
1) opening of Ora1 channels
2) opening of STIM1 channels
3) influx of Ca2+ ions into the cytosol
4) the refilling of the cell's ER stores
1
2
3
4
1, 3 and 4
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Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
209.TB 15.209. Put the events below describing the replenishment of ER Ca2+ stores in the proper order.
1) Establishment of contact between STIM1 and Ora1 clusters in regions where the ER and plasma
membrane are in close proximity
2) Opening of Ora1 channels
3) Repeated cellular responses requiring Ca2+ ions
4) Replenishment of ER Ca2+ ion stores
5) STIM1 and Ora1 clusters contact one another
6) Depletion of Ca2+ ions in the ER
7) Influx of Ca2+ ions into the cytosol
8) Clustering of STIM1 within the ER membrane and Ora1 within the plasma membrane.
63851274
36851274
38625174
36815274
36182574
Ans: D
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
210.TB 15.210. What is the name of a calcium-binding protein that acts in conjunction with calcium to bring
about the responses associated with cytoplasmic rises in calcium ion concentration?
calpectin
calmodulin
calcariain
callistin
modulocalcin
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
211.TB 15.211. In which organism below has calmodulin not been found?
plants
animals
bacteria
yeasts
humans
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
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Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
212.TB 15.212. Why does calcium not bind to calmodulin in an nonstimulated cell?
Calmodulin's affinity for calcium ions is too low to allow binding in an nonstimulated cell.
Calmodulin's affinity for calcium ions is too high to allow binding in an nonstimulated cell.
In an nonstimulated cell, calcium ions are destroyed.
In an nonstimulated cell, calcium ions are produced.
In an nonstimulated cell, calcium ions preferentially bind to another protein in the cytosol.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
213.TB 15.213. How can rising Ca2+ ion levels in the cytosol paradoxically lower Ca2+ ion levels in the
cytoplasm?
1) Rising Ca2+ ion levels activate destruction of Ca2+ ions.
2) Rising Ca2+ ion levels activate the system responsible for ridding the cell of excess
cytoplasmic quantities of Ca2+ ions.
3) Rising Ca2+ ion levels activate the system responsible for binding Ca2+ ions to DNA.
4) Rising Ca2+ ion levels deactivate the system responsible for ridding the cell of excess
cytoplasmic quantities of Ca2+ ions.
1
2
3
2 and 3
4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
214.TB 15.214. What evidence suggests that elevated calcium levels and elevated cyclic nucleotide levels can
both affect the synthesis of the same messenger RNAs?
The Ca2+-calmodulin complex activates ribonucleases that are also activated by cyclic nucleotides.
The Ca2+-calmodulin complex activates a protein kinase that phosphorylates the CREB transcription
factor on the same serine residue as does PKA, which is activated by cyclic AMP.
The Ca2+-calmodulin complex deactivates a protein kinase that phosphorylates the CREB
transcription factor on the same serine residue as does PKA, which is activated by cyclic AMP.
The Ca2+-calmodulin complex can degrade cyclic AMP.
Cyclic AMP can deactivate the Ca2+-calmodulin complex.
Ans: B
15.5
A)
215.TB 15.215. What cells are responsible for regulating the diameter of the leaf pores or stomata?
guard cells
Page 60
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B)
C)
D)
E)
pore cells
desiccant cells
turgor cells
sentinel cells
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
216.TB 15.216. Under adverse conditions, like high temperatures and low humidity, what ultimately triggers
the resultant lowering of the diameter of the stomatal pore?
water rushing out of the stomatal pore
the release of abscisic acid
the destruction of abscisic acid
the release of cyclic AMP
oxygen entering the plant through the stomatal pore
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.5
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
217.TB 15.217. Place the following events in the proper order.

1) The diameter of the stomatal pore decreases.
2) Elevated Ca2+ ion concentration leads to closure of K+ influx channels in the plasma membrane and
opening of K+ efflux channels, resulting in a net K+ ion outflow (and accompanying Cl- ions)
3) The plant experiences adverse conditions, such as high temperature and low humidity.
4) The release of abscisic acid, the plant stress hormone, is stimulated.
5) Ca2+ ion influx into cytosol triggers release of more Ca2+ ions from intracellular stores.
6) Ca2+ channels in the guard cell plasma membrane open.
7) Ionic concentration (osmolarity) of the guard cell drops and turgor pressure in the guard cell drops.
8) Abscisic acid binds to a GPCR in the plasma membrane of guard cells.
34865172
56482371
34865271
38425671
48365217
Ans: C
15.5
A)
B)
C)
218.TB 15.218. The activation of a common effector by signals from a variety of unrelated receptors, each of
which binds to its own ligand, is called _________.
divergence
convergence
crosstalk
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D)
E)
transvergence
coherence
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.6
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
219.TB 15.219. The passage of signals back and forth between different pathways is referred to as _________.
divergence
convergence
crosstalk
transvergence
coherence
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.6
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
220.TB 15.220. What molecule is responsible for activating Rsk-2?

PKA
CREB
MAPKK
MAPK
cAMP
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.6
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
221.TB 15.221. What inorganic gas has been shown to act as a second messenger that relaxes the smooth
muscles of blood vessels?
NO
N2O
nitrous oxide
CO
N2
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.6
222.TB 15.222. What is unusual about NO and the way it functions?
1) It acts both as an extracellular messenger, mediating intercellular communication, and as a second
messenger, acting within the cell in which it is generated.
2) It is so small.
3) It is so large.
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A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
4) It acts without binding to another molecule.

1
2
3
4
2 and 4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
223.TB 15.223. _____ is formed from the amino acid L-______ in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme _____.
Nitrous oxide, arginine, nitrous oxide synthase
Nitric oxide, asparagine, nitric oxide synthase
Nitric oxide, alanine, nitric oxide synthase
Nitric oxide, arginine, nitric oxide synthase
Nitrous oxide, arginine, nitric oxide synthase
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
224.TB 15.224. Why did the smooth muscle in cultured strips of aorta not respond to acetylcholine by relaxing,
while the smooth muscle of aortic rings did?
Smooth muscle cells in aortic strips are physically incapable of relaxing under any circumstances.
Acetylcholine in the strips could not penetrate to the muscle cells while in the rings it could.
Smooth muscle cells in aortic rings express acetylcholine receptors, while those in strips do not.
The delicate endothelial layer in aortal strips had been rubbed away during dissection, while in aortal
rings it remained intact.
The endothelial layer in aortal strips was abnormally thickened, while in aortal rings it was not.
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
225.TB 15.225. In which of the following biological processes is nitric oxide not involved?
anticoagulation
neurotransmission
smooth muscle relaxation
visual perception
hearing
Ans: E
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
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Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
226.TB 15.226. How does acetylcholine trigger the smooth muscle of blood vessels to relax?
indirectly by binding to receptors on endothelial cell surfaces, which leads to the production and
release of an agent that diffuses to smooth muscle cells
directly by passing through endothelial cells and acting on the smooth muscle cells
indirectly by passing through endothelial cells and acting on the smooth muscle cells
directly after being produced and transported to smooth muscle cells by the endothelial cells
acetylcholine receptors on the endothelial cells interacting directly with smooth muscle cells causing
them to relax
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
227.TB 15.227. What agent made by endothelial cells makes blood vessel smooth muscle cells relax?
nitrous oxide
acetylcholine
nitric oxide
cAMP
cGMP
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
228.TB 15.228. Place the following events in the correct order.

1) Nitric oxide synthase is activated.
2) The blood vessel dilates.
3) Nitric oxide binds to guanylyl cyclase in smooth muscle cells.
4) Acetylcholine binds to the outer surface of an endothelial cell.
5) Nitric oxide made in endothelial cell diffuses across endothelial cell membrane into adjacent smooth
muscle cells.
6) Cyclic GMP binds to a cGMP-dependent protein kinase, which phosphorylates specific substrates that
cause relaxation of the muscle.
7) The cytosolic Ca2+ ion concentration rises.
8) Guanylyl cyclase makes cyclic GMP.
46153872
47153862
47153826
74153826
47831562
Ans: B
15.7
229.TB 15.229. What stimulus triggered by the binding of acetylcholine then activates nitric oxide synthase?
Page 64
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
a rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration

a drop in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration
an action potential
cellular hyperpolarization
release of cGMP
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
230.TB 15.230. What second messenger is made in response to the entry of nitric oxide into smooth muscle
cells and subsequently activates the rest of the process leading to smooth muscle relaxation?
1) cyclic AMP
2) cyclic GMP
3) inositol triphosphate
4) diacylglycerol
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
231.TB 15.231. To what molecule does cyclic GMP bind, causing its activation and then triggering smooth
muscle relaxation?
cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase
cyclic GMP-dependent protein phosphatase
cyclic GMP-dependent protein phosphodiesterase
guanylyl cyclase
cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
232.TB 15.232. How were nitroglycerine's therapeutic benefits discovered?

through careful drug testing
the fact that dynamite factory workers with heart conditions had less angina on days that they worked
the fact that dynamite factory workers with heart conditions had more angina on days that they
worked
by reading the literature
by prayer
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Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
233.TB 15.233. How does relaxation of blood vessel smooth muscle cells lead to penile engorgement and
erection?
1) It decreases blood flow into the penis.
2) It decreases blood flow out of the penis.
3) It increases blood flow into the penis.
4) It increases blood flow out of the penis.
1
2
3
4
2 and 3
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
234.TB 15.234. How does Viagra enhance erectile function of the penis?
by inhibiting nitric oxide release
by inhibiting guanylyl cyclase activity
by preventing cGMP production
by inhibiting cGMP phosphodiesterase
by inhibiting cGMP phosphatase
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
235.TB 15.235. You are developing a drug that is supposed to work like Viagra. During testing of the drug,
you find that it inhibits both the PDE3 and PDE5 isoforms of cGMP phosphodiesterase. Would you
recommend further work on developing this particular drug and why would you do so or not do so?
Yes, because it inhibits PDE5, which is the isoform of the enzyme that acts in the penis.
No, because it inhibits PDE5, which is the isoform of the enzyme that acts in the penis.
Yes, because it inhibits PDE3, which is the isoform of the enzyme that plays a key role in the
regulation of heart muscle contraction and will not interfere with heart muscle contraction.
No, because it inhibits PDE3, which is the isoform of the enzyme that plays a key role in the
regulation of heart muscle contraction and could interfere with the operation of the heart.
None of these are correct. answers is correct.
Ans: D
15.7
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Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
236.TB 15.236. The addition of nitric oxide to the sulfhydryl groups of certain cysteine residues in a number of
proteins, including hemoglobin, Ras, ryanodine channels and caspases alters the activity, turnover or
interactions of the proteins. This posttranslational modification is called _______.
S-nitrosylation
SH-nitrosylation
sulfhydration
nitrofruition
nitric acidification
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
237.TB 15.237. To which amino acid is nitric oxide added, altering the activity, turnover and/or interactions of
proteins like hemoglobin, Ras, ryanodine channels and caspases?
alanine
cysteine
methionine
asparagine
phenylalanine
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.7
238.TB 15.238. During embryonic development, why do some of the neurons that grow out of the central
nervous system toward a target organ in the body periphery to innervate it die?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
1) Neurons that fail to find their way to the target tissue are sought out and destroyed by
macrophages.
2) Neurons that fail to find their way to the target tissue do not receive a survival signal from
the target tissue and are eliminated by the immune system.
3) Neurons that fail to find their way to the target tissue do not receive a survival signal from
the target tissue and are eliminated by apoptosis.
4) They simply die randomly for no particular reason.
1
2
3
1 and 2
4
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
239.TB 15.239. How does the immune system manage to avoid recognizing and attacking normal cells within
Page 67
Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
the body?
The body never makes T lymphocytes that can react against normal cells within the body.
T lymphocytes that have the ability to recognize normal cells within the body are eliminated by
apoptosis early in the development of the immune system.
Normal body cells are coated with a special secreted protective proteoglycan that prevents the
immune system from attacking them.
Normal body cells are coated with a special secreted protective glycoprotein that prevents the
immune system from attacking them.
Normal body cells are coated with a mixture of special secreted protective proteoglycans and
glycoproteins that prevents the immune system from attacking them.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
240.TB 15.240. What probably gives rise to the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases?
1) abnormal propagation of glial cells in the brain.
2) abnormal propagation of neurons in the brain and central nervous system.
3) elimination by apoptosis of essential neurons during the progression of the disease
4) a cessation of nerve cell propagation
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
241.TB 15.241. What gene in C. elegans was found to play a critical role in apoptosis?
CED-3
DEG-3
NSO-1
Eco R1
CEL-3
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
242.TB 15.242. How did researchers determine that the CED-3 gene in C. elegans plays a key role in
apoptosis?
Worms carrying a mutation in the CED-3 gene proceed through development without losing any cells
to apoptosis.
Worms carrying a mutation in the CED-3 gene proceed through development while losing more cells
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Karp 6e
C)
D)
E)
than normal to apoptosis.

Worms carrying a mutation in the CED-3 gene proceed through development without any change in
behavior.
Worms carrying a mutation in the CED-3 gene do not proceed through development at all.
Worms carrying a mutation in the CED-3 gene proceed through development producing multiple
embryos.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
243.TB 15.243. A family of proteins homologous to the products of the CED-3 gene in C. elegans has been
discovered in mammals. What is this family of proteins called?
capsidases
caspases
capsasins
capsulases
apoptases
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
244.TB 15.244. How is caspase-activated DNase (CAD) activated?

A caspase cleaves CAD, activating it.
A caspase cleaves an activator of CAD, turning it on and causing it to activate CAD.
A caspase cleaves a CAD inhibitor, relieving the CAD of inhibition.
A caspase binds to CAD allosterically, activating it.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
245.TB 15.245. Why is metastasized prostate cancer often treated with drugs that interfere with the production
of the male sex hormone testosterone?
1) When deprived of testosterone, prostate epithelial cells proliferate.
2) When deprived of testosterone, prostate epithelial cells become apoptotic.
3) When deprived of testosterone, prostate epithelial cells stop moving.
4) When deprived of testosterone, prostate epithelial cells begin to move more actively.
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
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Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
246.TB 15.246. The _________ pathway of apoptosis is one in which external stimuli activate apoptosis via a
signaling pathway.
extrinsic
external
intrinsic
peripheral
integral
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
247.TB 15.247. The _________ pathway of apoptosis is one in which internal stimuli activate apoptosis.
extrinsic
external
intrinsic
peripheral
integral
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
248.TB 15.248. What is the name of an extracellular messenger protein that is named for its ability to kill
tumor cells and also serves as an apoptotic stimulus?
tumor angiogenesis factor
tumor death factor
tumor necrosis factor
necromancer factor
tumorigenic factor
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
249.TB 15.249. Evidence suggests that TNFR1 is present in the plasma membrane as __________.
a preassembled trimer
a preasembled dimer
a disassembled trimer
a disassembled dimer
a tetrameric trimer
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Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
250.TB 15.250. Each TNFR1 receptor subunit has a cytoplasmic domain with a segment of about 70 amino
acids that mediates protein-protein interactions. This domain of the receptor is referred to as the ______
domain.
central
morte
death
terminal
cytoplasmic
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
251.TB 15.251. A caspase that initiates apoptosis by cleaving and activating downstream caspases is called a(n)
______ caspase, while the downstream caspase it activates carries out the controlled self-destruction of the
cell. This latter caspase is called a(n) _________ caspase.
initiator, activator
activator, initiator
initiator, executioner
executioner, initiator
activator, executioner
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
252.TB 15.252. What is the name of the family of proteins that regulates the activation of the intrinsic
apoptotic pathway?
1) the Bcl-2 family
2) the Acl-2 family
3) the programmed cell death family
4) the Apo-3 family
1
2
3
4
1 and 3
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
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Karp 6e
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
253.TB 15.253. Bcl-2 family proteins that promote apoptosis are called ________ Bcl-2 proteins, while
_________ Bcl-2 proteins protect cells from apoptosis. _______ share only one small domain with other
Bcl-2 family members and promote apoptosis by an indirect mechanism.
proapoptotic, preapoptotic, BH2-only proteins
proapoptotic, antiapoptotic, BH3-only proteins
antiapoptotic, proapoptotic, BH3-only proteins
preapoptotic, antiapoptotic, BH2-only proteins
preapoptotic, proapoptotic, caspaselike proteins
Ans: B
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
254.TB 15.254. Bcl-2 acts as a(n) ________ by promoting ___________.

oncogene, cell division
haplogene, survival of potential cancer cells that would otherwise die by apoptosis
oncogene, survival of potential cancer cells that would otherwise die by apoptosis
cancer gene, survival of potential cancer cells that would otherwise die by apoptosis
haplogene, cell division
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
255.TB 15.255. In the face of certain types of stress, ________ are _______, thereby shifting the balance of the
cell in the direction of apoptosis.
1) BH3-only proteins, expressed
2) antiapoptotic, activated
3) proapoptotic, expressed
4) BH3-only proteins, activated
1
2
3
4
1 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
256.TB 15.256. How do Bax and/or Bak molecules appear to exert their effect on the outer mitochondrial
membrane?
Bax and/or Bak molecules increase the space between adjacent lipids, thus increasing permeability.
Bax and/or Bak molecules decrease the space between adjacent lipids, thus decreasing permeability.
Bax and/or Bak molecules decrease the space between adjacent lipids, thus increasing permeability.
Bax and/or Bak molecules form a protein-lined channel within the outer mitochondrial membrane.
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Karp 6e
E)
Bax and/or Bak molecules form a protein-lined channel connecting the inner and outer mitochondrial
membranes.
Ans: D
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
257.TB 15.257. Which of the following is a Bcl-2 protein family member?

1) proapoptotic proteins that promote apoptosis
2) antiapoptotic proteins that protect cells from apoptosis
3) preapoptotic proteins that cause cells to enter apoptosis
4) BH3-only proteins that promote apoptosis by an indirect mechanism
1
2
3
4
1, 2 and 4
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
258.TB 15.258. How do BH3-only proteins exert their proapoptotic effect?

1) They can promote apoptosis by inhibiting antiapoptotic Bcl-2 members.
2) They can promote apoptosis by activating proapoptotic Bcl-2 members.
3) They can promote apoptosis by inhibiting proapoptotic Bcl-2 members.
4) They can promote apoptosis by activating antiapoptotic Bcl-2 members.
1
2
3
4
1 and 2
Ans: E
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
259.TB 15.259. ________ share only one small domain, the _______ domain, with other Bcl-2 family
members.
1) BH3-only proteins, BH3
2) BH3-proteins, BH3
3) Bcl-2-only proteins, BH3
4) BH3-only proteins, Bcl-2 domain
1
2
3
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Karp 6e
D)
E)
4
1 and 4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
260.TB 15.260. The Bcl-2 family of proteins are characterized by the presence of ________ and can be
subdivided into _____ groups.
three or more BH domains, three
one or more BH domains, two
one or more BH domains, three
only one BH domain, two
one or more Bcl-2 domains, three
Ans: A
Difficulty: Medium
15.8
261.TB 15.261. Place the following steps in the correct order.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
1) Bax and/or Bak molecules assemble into a multisubunit, protein-lined channel.

2) A cell experiences a certain type of stress.
3) Certain mitochondrial proteins, among them cytochrome c, which resides in the
intermembrane space are released from the mitochondria.
4) Bax and/or Bak molecules undergo a change in conformation that causes them to
insert into the outer mitochondrial membrane.
5) BH3-only proteins are expressed or activated.
6) The restraining effects of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins are overridden.
7) Certain proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bax, translocate from the
cytosol to the outer mitochondrial membrane.
8) The permeability of the outer mitochondrial membrane increases drastically.
25763184
25674183
61852347
25678143
65274813
Ans: B
15.8
A)
B)
C)
262.TB 15.262. What activates procaspase-9, turning it into the initiator caspase, caspase-9?
proteolytic cleavage
joining the multiprotein complex known as the apoptosome
addition of phosphate groups
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D)
E)
removal of phosphate groups

addition of a short stretch of new amino acids
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
263.TB 15.263. Once activated, what does caspase-9 itself activate?

phospholipase C
protein kinase A
other initiator caspases
downstream executioner caspases
downstream caspase-8
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
264.TB 15.264. What molecule when incorporated into the outer surface of apoptotic bodies serves to identify
them as such?
phosphatidylserine
phosphatidylinositol
phosphatidic acid
phospholipase C
proteoglycans
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
265.TB 15.265. What molecule, during apoptosis, moves phosphatidylserine molecules to the plasma
membrane outer leaflet where they are recognized as an "eat me" signal by specialized macrophages?
a carbohydrate scramblase
a nucleotide scramblase
a phospholipid scramblase
a flippase
a translocase
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
266.TB 15.266. Why is it important that apoptotic cell death occurs without spilling cellular content into the
extracellular environment?
The release of cellular debris would trigger inflammation, which could cause significant tissue
damage.
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B)
C)
D)
E)
Release of cellular debris would cause enhanced cell growth.

Cellular debris would invariably be toxic.
Cellular debris would raise the pH of the extracellular fluids immediately.
Cellular debris would lower the pH of the extracellular fluids immediately.
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
267.TB 15.267. Why was the fact that TNF binding to the TNF receptor often transmits two distinct and
opposing signals into the cell interior, one stimulating apoptosis and the other stimulating cell survival,
disappointing?
Investigators were hoping to use TNF to enhance cell division.
Investigators were hoping to use TNF as a mitogen.
Investigators were hoping to use TNF as an agent to kill tumor cells.
Investigators were hoping to use TNF to degrade caspases.
Investigators were hoping to use TNF to induce tumors in experimental animals.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
268.TB 15.268. What is the name of the transcription factor, the activation of which leads to the expression of
genes encoding cell-survival proteins?
CREB2
GREB2
NF-B
NF-B
tau
Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
15.8
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
269.Human Perspectives Question 15.001

Which disease below is an inherited disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of the retina and
eventual blindness?
glaucoma
retinitis pigmentosa
hypoparathyroidism
hyperparathyroidism
presbyopia
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
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A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Retinitis pigmentosa and other diseases like it result from a mutation leading to _______ in the encoded
receptor. In this case, the mutated protein does not perform as well as it usually does.
1) a gain of function
2) a loss of function
3) no change in the structure
4) no change in the function
1
2
3
4
3 and 4
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

In some cases, like that of thyroid adenomas, a mutated protein has picked up an ability that it did not
previously possess. Such a mutation results in ___________.
1) a gain of function
2) a loss of function
3) no change in the structure
4) no change in the function
1
2
3
4
3 and 4
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

What hormone normally causes thyroid cells to secrete thyroid hormone?
TSH
FSH
LH
chorionic gonadotropin
estrogen
Ans: A
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
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A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

The constitutively active TSH receptor immediately activates which molecule below?
adenylyl cyclase
guanylyl cyclase
a heterotrimeric G protein
TNF
an RTK
Ans: C
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

You introduce the gene for a gain of function mutant of a TSH receptor into cultured cells that normally
lack the receptor. The mutant protein is made and incorporated into the plasma membrane. What
observation would you make of the cells in culture?
The genetically engineered cells continually make high amounts of cGMP.
The genetically engineered cells continually make cAMP.
The genetically engineered cells make cAMP only in the presence of TSH.
The genetically engineered cells make the receptors only in the presence of TSH.
The genetically engineered cells make the receptors only in the absence of TSH.
Ans: B
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

If you examine a tumor and compare it to normal tissue from its organ of origin, you find that the tumor
contains a mutant gene that is not present in the normal tissue, which has only the normal version of the
gene. What kind of mutation caused this tumor?
a point mutation
a germ line mutation
a somatic mutation
a deletion mutation
an insertion mutation
Ans: C
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)

Why do the testes have a lower temperature than the body's visceral organs?
They are smaller than visceral organs.
They are metabolically more active.
They are housed outside the body core.
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D)
E)
They are housed inside the body core.

They are metabolically less active.
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

What is the sequence of events leading to the production of testosterone in normal testicular cells?
1) cAMP production begins.
2) The G protein activates adenylyl cyclase.
3) The LH receptor activates its G protein.
4) Testosterone production is triggered.
5) LH binds to LH receptors on testicular cell surfaces.
53241
53214
52314
35214
53124
Ans: B
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

What evidence suggests that the mutant G isoform of the testicular cells and the parathyroid gland is not
essential in the activity of most other cells?
the fact that low temperatures caused unregulated activity of the G isoform in testicular cells
the fact that high temperatures caused a loss of activity of the G isoform in parathyroid gland cells
the fact that most bodily organs functioned at a normal level in patients suffering from precocious
puberty and hypoparathyroidism
the fact that most bodily organs functioned at an abnormal level in patients suffering from precocious
puberty and hypoparathyroidism
Ans: C
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Common, normal variations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene within the population are called ____.
mutations
allelic disturbance
populational variation
genetic polymorphisms
morphological genes
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Ans: D
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

In what way do genetic polymorphisms have an often-considerable impact on human disease?
They cause diseases directly.
They cause certain individuals to be more or less susceptible to particular disorders than others.
They cause everyone to get ill.
They invariably lead to severe genetic abnormalities.
They cause diseases indirectly.
Ans: B
Difficulty: Easy
Human Perspectives
Ans:

What molecules are encoded by the largest family of genes found in the human genome? What percentage
of all prescription drugs acts as ligands that bind to this huge superfamily of receptors?
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Over 33% of all presrciption drugs.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

What disease is an inherited disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the retin and eventual
blindness? What mutation can cause RP? How do some of the mutations in rhodopsin lead to the disease?
Retinitis pigmentosa. RP can be caused by mutations in the gene that encodes rhodopsin, the visual
pigment of the rods. Many of the mutations in the gene encoding rhodopsin lead to premature
termination or improper folding of the rhodopsin protein an dits elimination from the cell before it
reaches the plasma membrane. Other mutations lead to the synthesis of a rhodopsin molecule that
cannot activate its G protein and thus cannot pass the signal downstream to the effector.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

What is a "loss of function" mutant? Give an example of such a mutant.
A "loss of function" mutant leads to a loss or deficit in the function of the encoded protein. Examples
of such mutations are the mutations in the gene that encodes rhodopsin; these mutations can lead to
retinitis pigmentosa.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
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Ans:

What is a "gain of function" mutant? Give an example of such a mutant.
A "gain of function" mutation is a mutation in which the affected protein gains an ability it previously
lacked. This is in contrast to mutant proteins that lose their function when the genes that encode them
are changed, thus altering their amino acid sequence. An example of a "gain of function" mutation is
seen in benign thyroid tumors called adenomas. The cells of this tumor possess a mutant version of
the receptor for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Normal thyroid cells secrete thyroid hormone in
response to TSH; in the absence of TSH, they cannot secrete thyroid hormone. The cells of
adenomas possess a mutant receptor with an amino acid substitution that affects the structure of the
third intracellular loop of the protein. As a result of the mutation, the TSH receptor constitutively
activates a G protein on its inner cell membrane surface, sending a continual signal through the
pathway that leads to excessive thyroid hormone secretion. It also leads to excessive cell
proliferation, causing the tumor. The receptor constantly produces its signal instead of being
regulated.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

You are studying a mutant form of a receptor for epinephrine in the liver and note that most of the cells in
the liver possess the normal form of the receptor, while a small group of contiguous cells contains the
mutant form. How did this happen?
The mutant form of the receptor arose by a somatic mutation. The cells possessing the mutant form
of the receptor are all descendants of the cell in which the mutation originated, which explains their
close proximity to one another.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

You are studying a receptor in the membrane of a cell that exerts its effect through increased cAMP
synthesis via an activated G protein. A mutant cell line is found to contain an altered form of this receptor
that is constantly activated. What word describes such a constantly activated receptor and what effect does
it have on cellular cAMP levels?
The receptor is said to be acting constitutively, which means that it is consistently activated whether
its ligand is present or not. Since the receptor is constantly activated, it continues to activate its G
protein, which, in turn, activates adenylyl cyclase constantly, leading to elevated levels of cellular
cAMP.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
You discover a mutant form of the same G protein that caused hypoparathyroidism and precocious puberty
in two male patients. What might happen to patients who had a mutant form of the same G protein that
acted constitutively at 37C, but that could not respond to the appropriate hormone at 33C? What would
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Ans:
be likely to be the effect of this mutation on tissues other than the testes or the parathyroid gland?
Such a person would produce and secrete parathyroid hormone in the presence and absence of stimuli
that normally induce it, probably leading to hyperparathyroidism. This individual would also be
unlikely to go through puberty because the G protein could not be activated at all at the lower
temperatures of the testes and testosterone would not be likely to be produced at high enough levels
to induce puberty. It is likely that few, if any, other tissues would be affected, since this particular G
isoform appears not to be essential in the activities of most other cells.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

What would be the effect of a mutant receptor whose hormone-binding site was able to bind the hormone
permanently? What would happen if this binding site were attached by genetic engineering to a receptor
domain that was incapable of activating G proteins under any circumstance?
A mutant receptor that could bind permanently to the hormone would probably result in continuous
activation of the G proteins and the downstream responses. If the mutant hormone-binding site were
attached by genetic engineering to a domain that was unable to interact with G proteins under any
circumstances, the downstream responses would thus not occur even when the hormone was attached
permanently.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

Distinguish between somatic and inherited mutations.
Somatic mutations arise in cells of the body at some time after fertilization, during development or
sometime after maturity is reached. Inherited mutations are passed down through one of the gametes
and are incorporated into all of the cells of the developing organism.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
Ans:

What is the connection between hormone receptors and the Kaposi's sarcoma often seen in AIDS patients?
Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by a virus that carries the code for a constitutively active GPCR. This
virus is a type of Herpes virus and causes purplish skin lesions. The virus genome encodes a
constitutively active interleukin-8 receptor, which stimulates signaling pathways that control cell
proliferation.
Difficulty: Medium
Human Perspectives
291.Art Question 15.001
In the figures below, what would be likely to reverse the effect of a protein kinase that had added a
phosphate group to a target protein as shown in the figure?
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Ans:
A protein phosphatase.
Difficulty: Medium
15.1, 15.3
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According to the figure below, what is the effect of a G-protein coupled receptor kinase (GRK) on a
receptor protein?
Ans:
The GRK adds phosphate groups to the receptor. The phosphorylated receptor is then bound by an
arrestin molecule, which inhibits the ligand-bound receptor from activating additional G proteins.
The receptor bound to arrestin is likely to be taken up by endocytosis.
Difficulty: Medium
15.2
According to the figure below, PI-specific phospholipase C cleaves phosphatidylinositol into diacylglycerol
and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). IP3 triggers Ca2+ ion release from the interior of the SER into the cell
cytoplasm through a Ca2+ ion channel. Prior to the release of IP3, how would you describe the relative
concentrations of Ca2+ ions the cytoplasm and the SER?
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Ans:
Prior to the arrival of IP3 at its receptor, Ca2+ ion concentrations were highest inside the SER and
much lower in the cytoplasm. This explains why Ca2+ ions leave the SER and enter the cytoplasm.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
The figure below shows liver cell response to 0.4 nM vasopressin. How was Ca2+ ion release measured?
Ans:
Aequorin is a protein extracted from some jellyfish that luminesces when it binds to Ca2+ ions. A
single liver cell was injected with aequorin and whenever Ca2+ ions were released, the luminescence
was measured and served as an accurate measure of Ca2+ ion release, since the intensity of the
luminescence would be proportional to the concentration of free calcium ions. Exposure of the cell to
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vasopressin leads to controlled spikes in the concentration of free calcium at periodic intervals.
Higher concentrations of hormone do not increase the height or amplitude of the spikes, but they do
increase the spike frequency.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
According to the figure below, what molecule serves as a donor of glucose to a growing glycogen chain?
What bond is broken by phosphorylase? What enzyme synthesizes glycogen?
Ans:
UDP-glucose. An -1,4-glycosidic linkage. Glycogen synthase.

Difficulty: Medium
15.3
In the figure below, what carbons in cAMP are joined by the phosphate group? Is the nucleotide from
which cAMP is synthesized an RNA or DNA nucleotide? How many transmembrane domains are there in
adenylyl cyclase? What enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of cAMP and its conversion to a 5'
monophosphate?
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Ans:
The 3' & 5' carbons. It is an RNA nucleotide, since there is an oxygen atom attached to the 2' carbon
of the sugar (ribose). 12. A phosphodiesterase.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
According to the figure below, what are the roles of phosphatase and phosphodiesterase in the liver cell
response to glucagon or epinephrine?
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Ans:
Phosphatase removes phosphate groups from some enzymes in the pathway, thus changing their
activities. If the added phosphate groups inhibit the enzyme, their removal activates the enzyme. If
the added phosphate groups activate the enzyme, their removal inhibits the enzyme's activity.
Phosphodiesterase converts cAMP to AMP; therefore, cAMP is no longer available to activate protein
kinase A, and thus the rest of the cascade.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
According to the figure below, what would be likely to deactivate a receptor tyrosine kinase and the
phosphotyrosine residue binding sites recognized by PTB and SH2 binding domains?
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Ans:
Dephosphorylation of the phosphotyrosine residues of the receptor subunit phosphotyrosine motifs

and those of the other proteins would deactivate the receptors and prevent SH2- and PTB-containing
proteins from binding to the receptors and/or IRSs, as would removal of the receptor's ligand. After
removal of any added phosphate groups, the tyrosine residues of the phosphotyrosine motif would
then remain dephosphorylated, if the receptor's ligand were no longer present.
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
In the figure below, what role does the IRS protein pictured in the drawing play? What allows the IRS
protein to bind to the activated receptor? What happens once the IRS is bound to the activated RTK?
Ans:
It is a docking protein for other signaling proteins. The IRS protein's PTB domain. Once the IRS is
bound to the activated RTK, tyrosine residues on the IRS are phosphorylated by the activated RTK.
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These phosphorylated residues serve as binding sites for other signaling proteins, explaining why the
IRS is called a docking protein.
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
According to the figure below, of how many subunits does an active STAT family transcription factor
consist? What leads to the activation of STAT family transcription factors? When the STAT transcription
factor dimerizes, to what does each subunit of the dimer bind?
Ans:
2 subunits; when activated, it is a dimer. Phosphorylation of the STAT transcription factor monomer
by an activated RTK kinase. Each subunit of the dimer binds to the phosphate groups on the other
subunit; these phosphate groups were the same ones that had been added by the activated RTK.
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
According to the figure below, what determines the length of time that a G protein is active?
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Ans:
The degree of GTPase stimulation by a GAP determines the length of time that the G protein is
active. The GAP serves as a type of clock that regulates the duration of the response. When GTPase
activity is higher, the G protein's bound GTP is converted to GDP more quickly, deactivating the G
protein sooner.
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
Given the information included in the figure below, what would happen to G protein activity if you were
able to inhibit selectively the activity of the guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI)? What would
be the effect on G protein activity of a treatment that elevated the activity of GTPase-activating protein
(GAP)? What might be the effect on G protein activity of increasing the concentration of guanine
nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), while activating GAP?
Ans:
Normally, interaction of a G protein with GDI would prevent it from releasing GDP as frequently as
usual, thus depressing the G protein's activity. Inhibition of GDI would prevent its interaction with
the G protein, which should lead to elevated rates of GDP release from the G protein, thus raising the
activation rate of the G protein and elevating its activity. Elevation of GAP activity would result in
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GTP molecules bound to G proteins being hydrolyzed more rapidly. Since G proteins are active
when bound to GTP, they will thus be active for shorter periods of time and overall G protein activity
will decrease. Increasing the rate of GDP - GTP exchange should result in the elevation of G protein
activity, while elevating GAP activity should decrease G protein activity by speeding up hydrolysis of
bound GTP to GDP. Since the effects of the two treatments oppose each other, they should cancel
each other out and cause, at most, only a slight change in G protein activity in either the direction of
activation or inhibition.
Difficulty: Medium
15.4
According to the figure below, what is the series of events triggered by the binding of PKB to PIP3?
Ans:
When PKB binds via its PH domain to PIP3, the interaction changes the conformation of PKB,
making it a substrate for another PIP3-bound kinase (PDK1), which phosphorylates and activates
PKB. Another phosphate group on the enzyme is added by a second kinase, most likely mTOR.
Once activated, PKB dissociates from the plasma membrane and moves into the cytosol and nucleus.
PKB is a major component of a number of separate signaling pathways that mediate the insulin
response. These pathways lead to translocation of glucose transporters to the plasma membrane,
glucose uptake and the synthesis of glycogen and the synthesis of new proteins in the cell. Given
what you have learned, how would you guess that PKB is inactivated when its inactivation is
required? PKB is probably inactivated by dephosphorylation carried out by a protein phosphatase
(specifically protein phosphatase PP2A).
Difficulty: Medium
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15.4
According to the figure below, how do Ca2+ ions released from the SER get back in to reestablish the Ca2+
ion gradient?
Ans:
There is a Ca2+ ion pump embedded in the SER membrane; it pumps the ions back into the SER and is
named SERCA.
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
According to the schematic drawing of calmodulin in the figure below, which binds more calcium ions, the
N-terminal or C-terminal end?
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Ans:
Both ends bind two Ca2+ ions.

Difficulty: Medium
15.5
According to the figure below, how do increases in free abscisic acid decrease cellular K+ concentration in
the guard cells of the stomata?
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Ans:
Rising abscisic acid levels open Ca2+ ion channels in the plasma membrane, allowing a Ca2+ ion
influx. The Ca2+ ion influx triggers the release of more Ca2+ ions from internal stores in the plant cell's
large central vacuole. When Ca2+ ions are released from the vacuole through channels in the
tonoplast, further elevating cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, the closing of K+ ion influx channels and
the opening of K+ ion efflux channels are triggered. The K+ ion efflux is accompanied by a Cl- efflux.
These ion movements cause a decrease in intracellular solute concentration and the osmotic loss of
water from the cells.
Difficulty: Medium
15.5
According to the figure below, what mediates crosstalk between the pictured pathways?
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Ans:
Crosstalk between the two pictured pathways is mediated by Ca2+ ions, which are released from the
SER by the action of IP3. The Ca2+ ions can then act on various proteins, including protein kinase C,
whose activity is also stimulated by diacylglycerol.
Difficulty: Medium
15.6
According to the figure below, how can PIP2 be converted to IP3 and DAG by both tyrosine kinase-linkedand G protein-linked receptors?
Ans:
Both types of receptors activate different forms of phospholipase C (PLC and PLC), both of which
can convert PIP2 to IP3 and DAG.
Difficulty: Medium
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15.6
In the figure below, upon what molecule do the pathways illustrated converge?
Ans:
Ras, which then activates the MAP kinase cascade.

Difficulty: Medium
15.6
According to the figure below, what is the effect of epinephrine on the MAP kinase cascade? Which
molecules phosphorylate and activate the transcription factor CREB on the same serine residue and of
which cascades are they a part? What is the effect of active Ras on Raf?
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Ans:
The binding of epinephrine by its receptor leads to an elevation of cAMP synthesis. The cAMP, in
turn, activates protein kinase A, which phosphorylates Raf. Phosphorylation of Raf by protein kinase
A results in Raf inhibition. It is therefore less able to activate the MAP kinase cascade. Thus,
epinephrine inhibits the activation of the MAP kinase cascade. Both PKA of the epinephrine-cAMP
cascade and Rsk-2 kinase of the MAP kinase cascade phosphorylate the CREB transcription factor.
An active Ras molecule will phosphorylate Raf and activate it, leading to the activation of the MAP
kinase cascade.
Difficulty: Medium
15.6
As depicted in the figure below, what event triggered by acetylcholine binding to its receptor activates nitric
oxide synthase? What event does the nitric oxide, thus produced, cause to happen ultimately?
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Ans:
Acetylcholine binding by its receptor triggers the opening of Ca2+ ion channels so that Ca2+ ions enter
the cell traveling down their gradient. Ca2+ ions then activate nitric oxide synthase, which produces
nitric oxide. Nitric oxide diffuses from the endothelial cell, where it was produced, into smooth
muscle cells, where it activates guanylyl cyclase and the production of cGMP, which leads to muscle
cell relaxation and dilation of the blood vessel encircled by the smooth muscle cells.
Difficulty: Medium
15.7
Ans:
312.Critical Thinking Question 15.001

What determines whether a cell responds to a particular stimulus like a hormone or growth factor?
A cell can respond to such a stimulus only if it possesses the appropriate receptor.
Difficulty: Easy
15.1
Ans:

What is meant by a signal transduction procedure?
The stimulus that arrives at the cell surface is different from the signal that it generates at the inner
cell membrane surface, which is responsible for triggering the cell response. The stimulus at the
outer cell surface has been transduced to a different signal.
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
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Ans:

Glucagon and epinephrine act to increase the activity of phosphorylase. Why is it important that they also
inhibit the activity of glycogen synthase?
Phosphorylase breaks down glycogen and eventually causes glucose to be released into the
bloodstream. It would be counterproductive to keep active an enzyme whose job is to polymerize
glucose to glycogen. If this happened, the cell would be spinning its wheels. Thus, the hormones
also inhibit glycogen synthase.
15.3
Ans:

A cell culture is known to respond to hormone A by the production of molecule D. The response can also
be obtained in a cell homogenate. If the homogenate is centrifuged, it can be separated into soluble and
particulate fractions. The particulate fraction is necessary for the response. If the particulate fraction is
treated with hormone and then washed with buffer, what will happen if the wash is added to the soluble
fraction? What will happen if the hormone is added to the soluble fraction?
If the wash is added to the soluble fraction, molecule D is produced. If the hormone is presented
directly to the soluble fraction, D is not produced because the soluble fraction does not possess the
receptors needed to make the response. Nor can it make the second messenger needed to trigger the
cascade of reactions needed to produce molecule D.
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
Ans:

What are two main features of a reaction cascade like the one started by glucagon or epinephrine?
A reaction cascade consists of successive reactions in which the product of one reaction trips off the
next one. In addition, at each step in the sequence, the reactions and the response are amplified.
Difficulty: Medium
15.1
Ans:

How does phosphatase-1 help to stop the response to the cAMP second messenger?
Phosphatase-1 dephosphorylates the enzymes that were phosphorylated as a result of the production
of cAMP. This returns them to the condition that existed before the binding of the hormone and
subsequent production of cAMP.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
Ans:

Why are the responses of different cells to the same hormone different?
The molecules that work downstream from the binding of the hormone by the receptor usually vary
from cell to cell. There are many different protein kinases, G proteins and potential substrates for
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protein kinases. Not all cells contain the same subsets of these molecules, even though they may
respond to the same hormone.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
Ans:

What would happen if the G protein that interacts with the glucagon receptor were mutated so that it loses
its GTPase activity?
If the G subunit lacks GTPase activity, it will be unable to convert bound GTP to GDP and will,
therefore, remain active. This means that it will continue to induce, without stopping, the production
of cAMP and the responses that cAMP triggers in the cell in question.
15.3
Ans:

What would happen if GTPase activity of a mutant G subunit of the G protein were to have elevated
GTPase activity?
If the G subunit had elevated GTPase activity, it would not stay active very long. Therefore, cAMP
levels would not rise as high as usual and the response to the hormone would be lessened or nonexistent.
15.1
Ans:

An enzyme is discovered that adds phosphate groups to a limited number of protein substrates. In the
presence of certain hormones, it is activated by a lipid molecule that remains in the membrane after its
formation. What is the name of this enzyme?
Protein kinase C.
15.4
Ans:

How can something as small and relatively simple as a Ca2+ ion modulate the wide-ranging activities that it
does?
It binds to Ca2+-binding proteins, especially calmodulins that change their shape and bind to a number
of proteins like protein kinase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and the Ca2+ transport system,
activating them and leading to the downstream responses.
15.4
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Ans:
You provide cells in culture with 32P and treat them with insulin for 30 minutes. Following the treatment,
you homogenize the cells and isolate the insulin receptors. The control cells received 32P, but no insulin.
Insulin receptors from the insulin-treated cells were radiolabeled with 32P; insulin receptors from the
controls were not. Why?
The insulin receptor is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), which means that it can add phosphate
groups to specific tyrosine residues in specific proteins. When the receptor is bound to insulin, this
enzyme activity is activated. One of its substrates is itself; it autophosphorylates. It cannot
phosphorylate itself, if insulin is not bound to it. Thus, the insulin-treated cells possess 32P-labeled
insulin receptors, while the control cells do not.
15.4
Ans:

You are studying a certain SH2 protein and a number of nonfunctional mutants of the same protein. During
your study, you discover that one of the mutant SH2 proteins is unable to bind to the phosphorylated insulin
receptor substrates (IRSs) that the normal form of the protein usually recognizes. What is the explanation?
The SH2 protein-binding site that usually recognizes phosphotyrosine motifs on the IRSs must have
been altered so that its ability to bind these sequences is severely decreased or eliminated.
15.4
Ans:

You are studying the ability of a normal SH2 protein to bind to a specific IRS and a number of mutant
forms of this same protein. One of the mutant IRS proteins is unable to bind to the SH2 protein normally.
Further studies reveal that this particular IRS is unable to be phosphorylated in at least one key location by
the insulin RTK. This explains its inability to bind the SH2 protein properly. Why is this protein not fully
phosphorylated?
RTKs only phosphorylate tyrosines within certain amino acid sequences called phosphotyrosine
motifs. It is likely that at least one of the phosphotyrosine motifs of this IRS has been altered so that
the insulin RTK is unable to recognize and phosphorylate its tyrosine. Thus, the SH2 protein is
unable to recognize at least one of the phosphotyrosine motifs of this IRS.
15.4
Ans:

How does the statement "Too much of a good thing can be bad for you." relate to the involvement of NO in
cell signaling?
NO at low concentrations plays what appears to be an important role in cell signaling in a number of
tissues. However, if they are found at high levels in the atmosphere, they are considered to be toxic
pollutants.
15.1
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Ans:

Assume for the moment that a marvelous new technology has been developed that allows you to visualize,
at high resolution, molecules like RTKs in the cell membrane. You visualize an RTK in the membrane of
an immune cell that responds to cytokines. It is a dimer. What can you say about its activity at the moment
the cell was fixed?
The RTK was active when it was fixed. Most RTKs are active only when dimerized. In most cases,
the dimers do not form until the appropriate stimulus, like a cytokine, is bound to the RTK.
15.2
Ans:

An intracellular process is triggered by a receptor binding to an extracellular ligand. It is blocked by
inhibition of Ca2+-transport channels. What does this suggest?
It suggests that the response to the ligand requires the participation of both the activated receptor and
an influx of Ca2+ ions. The influx of the Ca2+ ions may be, and quite likely are, triggered by the
activated receptor. If the receptor is activated, while the transport of Ca2+ ions is blocked, the process
will, of course, be blocked.
15.2
Ans:

Why would altering, by genetic engineering, a specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP) amino acid
residue known to play a role in the interaction of that GAP with Ras a be likely to lead to the continued cell
proliferation of the cell containing it?
If the specific amino acid residue altered was one of the residues involved in enhancing Ras-GTPase
activity, then Ras would remain bound to GTP for a longer period of time than normal. This would
keep Ras active longer than usual and would probably lead to excessive proliferation of the cells
containing the altered GAP.
15.3
Ans:

Hormones A, B and C bind to different receptors that activate separate pathways. Some distance down the
cascade initiated by each activated receptor, the same protein (M) is phosphorylated, leading to its
activation. This is an example of what kind of pathway?
A convergent pathway.
Difficulty: Medium
15.3
A particular receptor once activated can initiate a number of separate and distinct pathways within the cell.
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Ans:
This is an example of what kind of pathway?

A divergent pathway.
15.3
Ans:

Protein enzymes are isolated from an apoptotic cell. They are found to degrade partially a number of
proteins, including focal adhesion kinase, lamins, actin and some DNA repair enzymes. What kind of
enzymes are these likely to be?
Caspases.
15.3
Ans:

How does Viagra maintain penile engorgement?
Sexual arousal causes nerve impulses to the penis to trigger the release of nitric oxide, which
activates guanylyl cyclase, leading to cGMP production. This leads to smooth muscle relaxation in
the lining of penile blood vessels and the consequent engorgement of the penis. Viagra acts as an
inhibitor of cGMP phosphodiesterase, the enzyme that destroys cGMP. This inhibition thus leads to
maintained and elevated cGMP levels and the consequent maintenance of an erection for a longer
period of time.
15.3
Ans:

Why does it seem strange that mitochondria should be involved so intimately in apoptosis?
Mitochondria evolved from prokaryotic endosymbionts and prokaryotes do not undergo apoptosis. It
therefore seems strange that they should have been able to acquire this new ability after having
become part of a eukaryotic cell.
15.3
Page 104

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CH 15

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Karp 6e

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

3.TB 15.003. In autocrine signaling, _________.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

5.TB 15.005. What allows cells to respond to an extracellular messenger molecule?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

18.TB 15.018. Protein kinases and phosphatases can be _________.

21.TB 15.021. From what molecule are the steroids derived?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

24.TB 15.024. Which of the following processes is not regulated by eicosanoids?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

They have 7 nucleotides attached to their structure.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

40.TB 15.040. Place the events below in the correct order.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

42.TB 15.042. How are G proteins held at the plasma membrane?

44.TB 15.044. Place the following events in the proper order.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

46.TB 15.046. Which heterotrimeric G proteins function by inhibiting adenylyl cyclase?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

4) Receptors must dimerize.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

54.TB 15.054. Arrestin binding to GPCRs __________.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

56.TB 15.056. During desensitization, ____________.

57.TB 15.057. Desensitization __________.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

61.TB 15.061. How is signaling by an activated G subunit terminated?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

64.TB 15.064. An activated GPCR ____________.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

80.TB 15.080. Why do phorbol esters activate protein kinase C?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

They resemble inositol triphosphate.

81.TB 15.081. What happens to cells treated with phorbol esters?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

87.TB 15.087. Where is the receptor for IP3 located?

90.TB 15.090. The IP3 receptor is also a __________.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

92.TB 15.092. What type of receptor binds to epinephrine?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

95.TB 15.095. In what form do animal cells store glucose?

96.TB 15.096. Which cells secrete glucagon?

97.TB 15.097. Which cells secrete epinephrine?

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

101.TB 15.101. Glucagon ___________.

102.TB 15.102. Epinephrine ___________.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

104.TB 15.104. Put the following events in the right order.

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

Chapter 15: Cell Signaling Pathways

254.TB 15.254. Bcl-2 acts as a(n) by promoting ___.