In: Anatomy and Physiology
7. A signal molecule binds to a receptor and upregulates IP3. In this scenario... choose all correct (10 pts)
A) The signal molecule must be lipophilic
B) The signal molecule is the first messenger and IP3 is the second messenger
C) The receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor
D) The receptor is a catalytic receptor
Answer:
Option B (The signal molecule is the first messenger and IP3 is the second messenger)
Option C (The receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor)
Option D (The receptor is a catalytic receptor)
Explanation: A single molecule is a compound which bears some information in order to regulate and bring up the physiological responses within the cell.
The signal molecules depending on their solubility are classified into two groups namely;
Lipophilic signal molecules (lipid soluble) and
Hydrophilic signal molecules (water soluble)
Lipophilic signal molecules are the ones which are soluble in lipids and thus they get an easy entry inside the cell as the plasma membrane also is made of lipids. It is for this reason that they have an intracellular receptor.
Similarly, the hydrophilic signal molecules are the ones which are soluble in water and thus they cannot directly enter inside the cell as the plasma membrane is made of lipids. Therefore, they would have their receptors located extracellularly. Such receptors are catalytic/enzymatic in nature as the binding of a ligand over to them induces a cascade of the reactions on their inside thereby mediating the physiological responses within the body.
Therefore, in such cases the ligand or the signal molecule would be the first messenger whereas the messengers produced to inside of the cells would be the secondary messengers.
One such example of the catalytic receptor is G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) which picks up the information from the signal molecules, and then mediate a cascade of reactions in the interior of the cells by recruiting the secondary messengers like IP3. IP3 thus is responsible for bringing upon the physiological responses within the body.