Signaling pathways binding, cell surface receptors

Binding of extracellular signaling molecules to cell-surface receptors triggers Intracellular signal-transduction pathways that ultimately modulate cellular metabolism, function, or gene expression (Figure 13-1). 

Store it while it s here. Insulin binds to a specific receptor on the cell surface and exerts its metabolic effect by a signaling pathway that involves a receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylation cascade. Note that insulin stimulates storage processes and at the same time inhibits degradative pathways. 

Cell Surface Receptors These receptors are on the cell surface and have an affinity for hydrophilic binding molecules. Signals are transduced from external stimuli to the cytoplasm and affect cellular pathways via these surface receptors. There are three main superfamilies (groups) of cell surface receptors G-protein coupled receptors, ion channel receptors, and catalytic receptors using enzymatic activities. 

Figure 14-8. Overview of pathways that regulate programmed cell death. Apoptosis may occur in response to signaling through either the extrinsic pathway or the intrinsic pathway. In each case, proteolytic cleavage activates an initiator caspase, caspase 8 or 9, either of which can cleave an effector caspase such as caspase 3. Apaf-1 is part of a large complex called the apoptosome that mediates the intrinsic pathway. Binding of an extracellular death ligand to its cell-surface receptor activates the extrinsic pathway.

Extrinsic (death receptor) pathway of caspase activation during apoptosis involves the binding of death ligands to cell surface receptors (e.g., Fas/ CD95/Apo-l or TNF receptor), recruitment of adaptor molecules Fas-associated death domain (FADD) or TNF receptor-associated death domain (TRADD) to the cytosolic end of the receptor, and formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) at the plasma membrane. DISC recruits and activates the initiator caspases, caspase-8 or -10. 

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