Signal Transduction Pathways

What happens inside of a cell when a signal has been received?

Why?
When cells release signal molecules (ligands) to send a message, and the message is received, a whole
host of events take place inside the cell. The ultimate goal is a response—a gene is turned on, a protein is
manufactured, an enzyme is activated, the cell divides or dies, etc. There are many responses that could
occur, but the pathways to those responses are very similar.

Model 1 – Basic Signal Transduction Pathway

Ligand
Cell
membrane Cytoplasm
Activated
relay Response
protein 2

Activated
relay Activated
Response
protein 1 relay
Receptor protein 2
protein

Activated
Response
relay
protein 2

1. According to Model 1, does the signal transduction pathway occur inside or outside of a cell?

2. Compare the shape of the ligand in Model 1 to the shape of the receptor protein.

3. The four steps in the signal transduction pathway are listed below. Label the diagram above with
the Roman numerals to indicate where on the diagram each step is taking place.
I. Signaling
II. Reception
III. Transduction
IV. Response

Signal Transduction Pathways 1

 4. Based on the diagram in Model 1 and your labels, propose a definition for “transduction” in the
context of the signal transduction pathway.

5. Amplification often occurs during the transduction step in the signal transduction pathway.
a. Define “amplification” as it is used in everyday language.

b. Explain how the signal in Model 1 was amplified.

6. List several possible responses that could occur due to a signal being received by a cell.
(Hint: There are several listed in the Why? box.)

7. Once the response is achieved in a cell, what would need to occur to stop the response?

Read This!
Signal transduction pathways are as varied as the species on Earth, but each of them follow the same basic
steps. Reception may occur by the ligand attaching to a receptor protein or the ligand may travel through
the cell membrane by diffusion. Transduction may occur by one protein or by several proteins activating
each other in a cascade. Keep this in mind as you continue working through this activity.

2 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Biology

Model 2 – Phosphorylation Cascade
Nonamplification step

Amplification step
Inactive
Cell protein
Cytoplasm kinase 1
membrane Nucleus
P
Active P
protein Active
Active
kinase 2 Inactive protein
kinase 1 Inactive transcription
1 protein factor
kinase 2 transcription
factor ATP
2 7
Active relay P
protein
ADP
Inactive relay Active
Active
protein protein
protein
3 kinase 3
kinase 1

P
ATP Active P
Inactive 4 protein
Active P
protein
protein kinase 1
ADP kinase 2

kinase 3 Inactive Active 6

ATP protein
protein 5
kinase 2 kinase 3
ADP
Inactive
protein Inactive
kinase 3 protein
kinase 3

8. Refer to Model 2. Describe the event that sets off a phosphorylation cascade inside of a cell.

9. Phosphorylation is a process that adds a phosphate group onto a protein to “activate” it—that
is, to change its shape enough that it can function properly.
a. Which step(s) in the phosphorylation cascade illustrated in Model 2 include phosphorylation?

b. Where do the phosphate groups come from that are added to the proteins during
phosphory- lation?

10. According to Model 2, what class of enzymes performs phosphorylation?

11. Identify the steps in Model 2 that represent reception, transduction, and response for the
phosphorylation pathway.
Reception Transduction Response

Signal Transduction Pathways 3

 12. What is the cell’s response to the signal received in Model 2?

13. In Model 2, steps 3, 4, and 5 are shown as amplification steps. Describe what that means in
terms of this signal transduction pathway example.

14. What advantage would there be to an organism if the signal transduction pathway had several
amplification steps?

15. Describe what would occur in the cell if the activated protein kinase enzymes continued to be
active for a long period of time.

16. What would need to occur in the cell to deactivate the protein kinase enzymes?

17. Protein phosphatases are enzymes that remove phosphate groups from proteins. Complete the
illustration in Model 2 by adding at least two protein phosphatases (PP) to show how the cell is
returned to inactive status.

18. Although signal transduction pathways vary among species, there are several common elements.
Explain how a biologist might use details about signal transduction pathways used in different
species as evidence for evolutionary relatedness.

4 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Biology

Extension Questions
Model 3 – Secondary Messengers
1

Transport protein
Cell
membrane Active relay
Cytoplasm protein
2

3
Secondary
messenger

4
Response 5
Active relay
protein

19. Consider the signal transduction pathway in Model 3. What event begins the process of produc-
ing a cellular response?

20. Locate the secondary messenger molecules in Model 3.

a. Describe the type of diffusion that is used to get the secondary messengers into the cell.

b. What activates or opens the transport protein channel that allows the secondary messengers to
enter the cell?

Signal Transduction Pathways 5

Read This!
Relay molecules and secondary messengers have essentially the same jobs in signal transduction pathways.
However, relay molecules are almost always proteins that require activation. They are large and do not dif-
fuse through the cell quickly. Secondary messengers on the other hand are small, water soluble molecules
that can diffuse quickly. They may or may not need activation before they are able to move the signal on
to the next step in the process. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and calcium ions (Ca2+) are common secondary mes-
sengers in human systems.
21. Within an organism it is critical that signals between cells are very specific. For example, if
ligand A is meant to activate immune system cells to reproduce in response to an infection, it
should not also cause other cells to grow as if they had received a growth hormone. When a
ligand is released, what prevents all of the cells in the body from being affected?

6 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Biology