Ligand binding to receptor proteins functions in signal transduction.

signal transduction


▼ : 7TM receptors : classes of receptors : controlled activities : coupling : DAG : diacylglycerol : DGKzeta : extracellular signals : GEFs : G-protein coupled receptors : guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors : GPCR families : GPCRs : heptahelical receptors : hormone receptors : HREs : intracellular signals : intracellular receptors : intercellular signals : IP3 : kinase inhibitors : ligands : phospholipases : phospholipids : PI3K : PKCs : protein kinases : Ras : RasGRP : receptor classes : serpentine receptors : targets for control : 7TM receptors : ▼

Extracellular signals impinge upon specialized membranous receptors. Sensory transduction involves the conversion of mechanical or chemical stimuli to cellular signals or neurophysiological signals. Intracellular signals enable communication within cells, while intercellular signals enable communication between cells.

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Chemical signals (ligands) include :
1. neurotransmitters : acetylcholine, dopamine, epinephrine, GABA, glycine, norepinephrine, serotonin (5HT), etc.
2. hormones
3. phospholipids
4. growth factors
5. nutrients

Classes of receptors:
1. Membrane-penetrating receptors possessing/connected to intrinsic enzymatic activity:
…….a) receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) capable of autophosphorylation as well as phosphorylation of other substrates (incl. EGF, FGF, insulin, PDGF receptors),
…….b) tyrosine phosphatases (CD45),
…….c) guanylate cyclases (natriuretic peptide receptors),
…….d) serine/threonine kinases (activins, inhibins, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), TGF-beta receptors).
…….e) receptors coupled to intracellular tyrosine kinases by direct protein-protein interactions: 'Multiprotein signaling networks create focal points of enzyme activity that disseminate the intracellular action of many hormones and neurotransmitters. Accordingly, the spatio-temporal activation of protein kinases and phosphatases is an important factor in controlling where and when phosphorylation events occur. Anchoring proteins provide a molecular framework that orients these enzymes towards selected substrates. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are signal-organizing molecules that compartmentalize the cAMP dependent protein kinase, phosphodiesterases, and a variety of enzymes that are regulated by second-messengers.'[s].

Phospholipases and phospholipids participate in transmission of ligand-receptor induced signals from the plasma membrane to intracellular proteins, primarily PKC, which is maximally active in the presence of calcium ion and diacylglycerol. PKC activity is mediated by receptors that are coupled to activation of phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma), which contains SH2 domains that enable it to interact with tyrosine phosphorylated RTKs. PI-3K is tyrosine phosphorylated and activated by various RTKs and receptor-associated PTKs. PI-3K is activated by the PDGF, EGF, insulin, IGF-1, HGF and NGF receptors. The p85 subunit of PI-3K is activated by tyrosine phosphorylation, but only the 110 kDa subunit is enzymatically active.

Phospholipases D and A2 (PLD, PLA2) sustain the activation of PKC through their hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylcholine (PC). Activation of PLC-gamma results in hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2), which leads to an elevation of intracellular DAG and inositol trisphosphate (IP3), which interacts with intracellular membrane receptors to effect release of stored calcium ions (PKC is maximally active in the presence of second messengers, calcium ions and diacylglycerol).

Diacylglycerol (DAG) is an intracellular messenger, which accumulates transiently in cells exposed to growth factors or other stimuli. Cellular responses such as growth and differentiation are impacted by the binding of DAG to PKC, thus activating PKC. Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) are responsible for eliminating the function of diacylglycerol (DAG) and for producing phosphatidic acid (PA) (both molecules are connected to cancer).

DGKzeta regulates factors that promote activity of the oncogene product, Ras, the activity of which must be precisely regulated lest abnormal cellular proliferation result. An estimated 30% of human tumors have an activating mutation of the Ras gene. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate Ras by facilitating GTP binding. Abnormally high levels of the nucleotide exchange factor, RasGRP can lead to malignant transformation. RasGRP has a diacylglycerol (DAG)-binding domain and its exchange factor activity depends on local availability of the signaling molecule DAG. Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) remove DAG from the cell by converting DAG to PA. DGKzeta, but not other DGKs, can completely eliminate Ras activation induced by RasGRP, and diacylglycerol kinase activity is required for this mechanism.

2. Serpentine receptors, guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors, or GPCRs, in which a characteristic trans-membrane structure spans the cell membrane seven times. Intracellular signalling is carried out by association of the neurotransmitter with G-proteins (small GTP-binding and hydrolyzing proteins), which leads to generation of second messengers. GTP-hydrolytic activity of G-proteins is regulated by GTPase activating proteins, GAPs. Ras, is a proto-oncogenic G-protein involved in carcinogenesis. Other cancer-active G-proteins include the gene products of the neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) susceptibility locus and the BCR locus (break point cluster region gene).

There are several families of GPCRs, including:
(a) GPCRs that modulate adenylate cyclase activity
(b) GPCRs that activate phospholipase C-gamma, leading to hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides (such as PIP2) and generating the second messengers, diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3). This class of receptors includes receptors for angiotensin, bradykinin and vasopressin.
(c) Photoreceptors coupled to a G-protein (transducin) that activates a phosphodiesterase, depressing the level of second messenger cGMP. The drop in cGMP causes closing of a Na+/Ca2+ ion channel, leading to hyperpolarization of the cell.

3. Intracellular receptors that migrate to the nucleus after binding to the ligand – here the ligand-receptor complex directly affects gene transcription. Hormone receptors are cytoplasmic proteins that bypass membrane-bound signal transduction pathways – receptors for lipophilic steroid/thyroid hormones, the glucocorticoid, vitamin D, retinoic acid and thyroid hormones. All hormone receptors are capable both of binding hormone and of directly activating gene transcription (bi-directional). After binding the hormonal ligand, the hormone-receptor complex translocates to the nucleus and binds to specific DNA sequences (hormone response elements, HREs), resulting in altered transcription rates of the associated gene.

Coupling of ligand-receptor interactions to intracellular events
1. phosphorylations by tyrosine kinases and/or serine/threonine kinases – two-component systems

Intracellular events controlled by signaling:
1. gene expression (transcription)
2. chemotaxis
3. cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation (tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphorylation)

Protein kinases are targetted by pharmaceuticals because PKs play a variety of roles in disease states. Kinase inhibitors bind to the kinase in at least four different binding modes:
(1) direct competition with ATP at the ATP binding site;
(2) engagement of an adjacent allosteric binding site in the ATP pocket, which is usually accessible when the activation loop is in the inactive conformation; and
(3) binding at sites remote from the ATP site (but still close to the ATP) that impact kinase activity;
(4) binding outside of the ATP binding pocket (truly allosteric).

Kinases can escape inhibition by mutating key residues in their catalytic domain, thus becoming resistant to the kinase inhibitors. Those kinase that have or gain functional mutations may be more sensitive or resistant to inhibition by kinase inhibitors than is the wt form of the kinase.

▲: 7TM receptorsadhesioncell membraneschemotaxis : classes of receptors : controlled activities : coupling : DAG ~ DAG ~ DAGKs ~ diacylglycerol ~ diacyl glycerol kinase : diacylglycerol : DGKzeta : extracellular signals : GEFs : G-protein coupled receptors : guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors : GPCR families : GPCRsGPCRsGPCR families s : heptahelical receptorshormones: hormone receptors : HREs : intracellular signals : intracellular receptors : intercellular signals : IP3 : kinase inhibitors : ligandsmicrotubulesmigrationmolecular switchesneurotransmissionneuronal interconnections : phospholipases ~ phospholipase C-gamma : phospholipids : PI3K : PKCs : protein kinases : Ras : RasGRP ¤ Ras : receptor classesreceptor-mediated endocytosisreceptor proteins : serpentine receptors ~ signaling items ¤ signaling molecules : targets for control : 7TM receptors : ▲

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Signaling pathways:



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