Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

1. Hormones and other signal molecules bind with ____ affinities to their receptors and are produced at concentrations
____ their KD values.
a. low; far above
b. moderate; far above
c. moderate; equivalent to
d. high; far below
e. very high; equivalent to
ANSWER: e

2. Steroid hormones, such as glucocorticoids, effect their action by:

a. binding to a plasma membrane receptor, which stimulates a signal transduction pathway within the cell
b. binding to a plasma membrane receptor, which stimulates the receptor to enter the cell
c. entering into the cell and affecting the production of secondary messengers
d. entering into the cell and then acting as transcription regulators
e. both a and d are correct
ANSWER: e

3. All are unifying features of polypeptide hormones EXCEPT that they are:
a. originally synthesized with signal sequences.
b. synthesized as inactive preprohormones.
c. activated from preprohormones to hormones by phosphorylation.
d. may produce several different peptide hormones with suitable processing.
e. all are true.
ANSWER: c

4. Each of the following statements is true EXCEPT:

a. epinephrine is an amino acid derivative
b. steroid hormones can enter cells and regulate transcription
c. insulin is a polypeptide hormone
d. progesterone is a polypeptide hormone
e. all of the above are true
ANSWER: d

5. Which of the following doe NOT correctly pair a hormone with its function?
a. ACTH − promotes production of thyroxin
b. calcitonin − regulates plasma Ca2+
c. FSH − stimulates processes within the gonads
d. insulin − regulates metabolism and blood glucose
e. prolactin − stimulates milk production
ANSWER: a

6. All are enzymes in the enzyme cascade for activation of glycogen phosphorylase EXCEPT:
a. adenylyl cyclase.
b. protein kinase A.
c. hormone sensitive lipase.
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

d. phosphorylase kinase.
e. all are in the cascade.
ANSWER: c

7. G-proteins are associated with which receptor superfamily?

a. oligomeric ligand-gated ion channels
b. 7-transmembrane segment (7-TMS) receptors
c. cell adhesion protein receptors
d. single-transmembrane segment catalytic receptors
e. none of the above
ANSWER: b

8. All are components of the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) hormone signal transduction unit EXCEPT:
a. protein kinase A.
b. adenylyl cyclase.
c. hormone receptor.
d. G-protein.
e. all of the above.
ANSWER: e

9. Receptor tyrosine kinases have been called ____ as a result of their ____ and ____.
a. membrane-associated allosteric enzymes; induced conformation changes; oligomeric interactions
b. adrenergic receptors; binding insulin; binding epinephrine
c. GTP-binding proteins; GTPase activity; guanylyl cyclase activity
d. multi-TMS receptors; complex structure; G-protein binding
e. none of the above
ANSWER: a

10. All are domains of receptor tyrosine kinase EXCEPT:

a. adenylyl cyclase activity domain.
b. glycosylated extracellular receptor-binding domain.
c. a single transmembrane α-helix.
d. intracellular tyrosine kinase domain.
e. regulatory domain with phosphorylation sites.
ANSWER: a

11. The insulin receptor is in what class of tyrosine kinase receptors?

a. Class I with 2 Cys-rich repeat sequences
b. Class II with a2b2 tetrameric structure
c. Class III with multiple immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains
d. Class IV with a glycosylated protein domain
e. Class V with a lipid-rich hydrophobic domain
ANSWER: b

12. How does extracellular hormone binding activate intracellular tyrosine kinase activity?
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

a. conformational change induced active site activation

b. conformational change induced oligomeric association and phosphorylation
c. induced mRNA synthesis
d. activation of specific phospholipases
e. all are true
ANSWER: b

13. Nitroglycerine is a potent ____ because of the release of ____.

a. antioxidant; O2
b. .
vasoconstrictor; NO
c. .
vasodilator; NO
d. muscle tensor; O2
e. all are true
ANSWER: c

14. In G-proteins, binding of GTP causes which of the following to occur?

a. association of the Gβ and Gγ subunits with a receptor tyrosine kinase
b. dissociation of Gα from the dimer formed by Gβ and Gγ
c. phosphoylation of Gα using the GTP as the phosphorylating agent
d. guanylation of Gβ which promotes dissociation and activation of Gα
e. none of the above
ANSWER: b

15. The binding of hormone to G-protein coupled receptor stimulates the sequence:
A. binding of Gα (GTP) activates adenylyl cyclase
B. Gα(GTP) dissociates and re-associates with Gβγ
C. rapid exchange of GDP for GTP on Gα
D. GTPase of Gα hydrolyzes GTP to GDP
E. Gα dissociates from Gβγ
a. B, C, A, D, E
b. C, E, A, D, B
c. C, E, B, D, A
d. D, A, C, E, B
e. E, A, D, B, C
ANSWER: b

16. The amount of cAMP generated in the cytoplasm is dependent on the:

a. activity of adenylyl cyclase only.
b. activity of the phosphodiesterase only.
c. the length of time the GTP remains bound to the Gα-protein only.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.
ANSWER: d

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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information
17. A specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP) binds to and activates:
a. the G-protein.
b. the plasma membrane receptor.
c. adenylyl cyclase.
d. the GTPase activity of the Ras protein.
e. none of the above.
ANSWER: d

18. G-proteins are involved in directly mediating the activity of the following EXCEPT:
a. calmodulin.
b. adenylyl cyclase.
c. phospholipase C-β.
d. phospholipase A2.
e. +
ion channels for K and other ions.
ANSWER: a

19. The hydrolysis of PIP2 by phospholipase C-β yields what membrane-soluble secondary messenger?
a. diacylglycerol (DAG)
b. phosphatidylinositol (PI)
c. phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)
d. inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)
e. inositol-1,4-bisphosphate (IP2)
ANSWER: a

++
20. The second messenger produced from the hydrolysis of PIP2 that activates the increase of Ca concentrations in the
cytoplasm is:
a. diacylglycerol (DAG).
b. phosphatidylinositol (PI).
c. phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2).
d. inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3).
e. inositol-1,4-bisphosphate (IP2).
ANSWER: d

21. Cancerous tumors may develop from all of the following EXCEPT:
a. mutations in several proto-oncogenes or tumor suppression genes.
b. interactions among two or more oncogene products.
c. simultaneous mutations in a proto-oncogene and both copies of a tumor suppression gene.
d. overlapping growth-control mechanisms that when one is compromised by mutation, others take over.
e. all are true.
ANSWER: e

22. Phospholipase C-γ is activated by ____ while phospholipase C-β is activated by ____.
a. receptor tyrosine kinase; Gα
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

b. receptor tyrosine kinase; cAMP

c. nitric oxide; Gα
d. protein kinase A; cAMP
e. none of the above
ANSWER: a

23. The phospholipid that is hydrolyzed to stimulate ceramide-activated protein kinase is:
a. sphingomyelin.
b. phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate.
c. phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate.
d. phosphatidylcholine.
e. phosphatidylinositol.
ANSWER: a

2+
24. Transient increases in cytoplasmic Ca levels can activate all EXCEPT:
a. muscle contraction.
b. glucose uptake.
c. exocytosis.
d. glycogen metabolism.
e. all are true.
ANSWER: b

++
25. All are results of the phospholipase C activity mediated by hormone binding, signal transduction and eventually Ca
release into the cytoplasm EXCEPT:
a. an increase in guanylyl cyclase activity.
b. the phosphorylation of specific proteins.
c. activation of protein kinases by calcium complexed with calmodulin.
d. the release of diacylglycerol from membrane phospholipids.
e. the release of IP3.
ANSWER: a

26. Lithium salts have been used for years for the treatment of manic depression. Although its mechanism of action at the
+
molecular level is far from clear, it has been shown that Li :
a. alters the conformation of a number of plasma protein receptors.
b. increases the GTPase activity of G-proteins.
c. inhibits a number of enzymes in phosphoinositide metabolism.
d. inhibits Ca++ release from cytoplasmic organelles.
e. activates protein kinase A much like cAMP does.
ANSWER: c

27. Calmodulin exhibits all of the following characteristics EXCEPT:

a. its conformation is sensitive to Ca++ binding.
b. it contains a basic amphiphilic alpha helix which interacts with target proteins.
c. it modulates the activity of many protein kinases.
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

d. it contains one or more helix-loop-helix motifs (EF-hands) which bind the Ca++ ion.
e. all are characteristics.
ANSWER: b

++
28. Calcium binding proteins all possess two or more characteristic peptide domains for Ca binding that consist of a
short α-helix, a loop of 12 amino acids and a second α-helix (helix-loop-helix) that is called:
a. basic region leucine zipper.
b. zinc finger.
c. EF hand.
d. beta-beta.
e. none are true.
ANSWER: c

++
29. Rapid influx of Ca into the cytoplasm can occur as a result of the binding of hormones to a receptor activating
++
phospholipase C activity. The increased level of Ca is derived from all of the following EXCEPT:
a. lysozymes.
b. calciosomes.
c. endoplasmic reticulum.
d. extracellular stores through Ca++ channels in the plasma membrane.
e. all of the above.
ANSWER: a

30. All are characteristic of EF-hand proteins EXCEPT:

a. EF-hand domains usually are arranged so that two EF-hand domains directly contact each other.
b. EF-hand proteins dramatically change conformation upon binding Ca++ ions.
c. Conformational changes promote binding of the EF-hand protein with its target protein(s).
d. CaM (a EF-hand protein) binds target protein with basic amphiphilic alpha helix (Baa helix) motifs.
e. All are characteristic.
ANSWER: e

++
31. The members of the protein kinase C family that are regulated by Ca , by diacylglycerol and by phosphatidylserine
are called the:
a. atypical PKCs.
b. conventional PKCs.
c. modified PKCs.
d. novel PKCs.
e. all of the above.
ANSWER: b

32. The original phorbol esters are natural products that mimic ____ by binding and activating ____ that potentiate the
effects of ____.
a. 2+
hormones; PKA; Ca
b. DAG; PKC; carcinogens
c. cAMP; PKA; glucagon
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

d. 2+ 2+
Ca ; PKC; Ca
e. +
PIP2; CaM; Li
ANSWER: b

527 c−src
33. ____ of Tyr in the SH2 domain of protein tyrosine kinase pp60 ____ tyrosine kinase activity by moving an
"activation loop" ____ the active site.
a. Phosphorylation; activates; away from
b. Phosphorylation; inhibits; into
c. Dephosphorylation; inhibits; away from
d. Dephosphorylation; activates; into
e. none are true
ANSWER: b

+
34. In a neuron, when voltage-gated Na channels have just closed, which of the following is true?
a. the membrane is less polarized than at rest
b. the membrane is more polarized than at rest
c. the membrane is polarized to the same degree as at rest
d. the membrane is hyperpolarized
e. none of the above are true
ANSWER: a

35. Which of the following statements regarding neurons and the action potential is NOT true?
a. efflux of K+ ions leads to a brief hyperpolarization of the cell membrane
b. the resting membrane potential is approximately −80mV
c. sodium ions that enter an axon through sodium channels in a given axonal region diffuse further along the
axon, depolarizing the next axonal region
d. in myelinated axons, sodium channels are distributed evenly
e. all of the above are true
ANSWER: d

36. During an action potential, which of the following is directly responsible for restoration of resting membrane
potential?
a. +
efflux of K ions
b. +
efflux of Na ions
c. +
influx of K ions
d. +
influx of Na ions
e. efflux of Cl− ions
ANSWER: a

37. Botulism toxin inhibits the potentiation of nerve impulses by interfering with what aspect of acetylcholine signaling?
a. prevents calcium channel opening, thus preventing the influx of calcium needed to release acetylcholine
b. prevents acetylcholine vesicles from fusing with the presynaptic neuronal membrane
c. acts as an acetylcholinesterase to degrade acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft before it can bind to receptors on
the postsynaptic neuron
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

d. binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron with very high affinity, preventing acetylcholine from binding
e. none of the above
ANSWER: b

38. Acetylcholinesterase:
a. catalyzes synthesis of acetylcholine.
b. is regulated by binding of cocaine.
c. hydrolyzes acetylcholine inside the presynaptic cell.
d. normally functions to prolong stimulation of the postsynaptic cell.
e. must be secreted into the synaptic cleft.
ANSWER: e

39. All are inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase EXCEPT:

a. sarin.
b. malathion.
c. parathion.
d. tabun.
e. all are inhibitors.
ANSWER: e

40. Neurotransmitters must be removed from the synaptic cleft to:

a. promote prolonged stimulation of the postsynaptic cell.
b. prevent prolonged stimulation of the presynaptic cell.
c. promote prolonged stimulation of the presynaptic cell.
d. prevent prolonged stimulation of the postsynaptic cell.
e. none of the above.
ANSWER: d

41. Like acetylcholine, ____ and ____ are excitatory, but must be removed by ____.
a. Asp; Lys; degradation
b. Asp; Gly; reuptake
c. Glu; Gln; reuptake
d. Gln; Lys; degradation
e. Lys; Arg; degradation
ANSWER: b

42. It is believed that many general anesthetics work by prolonging the open time of GABA receptors. What type of
channel does the GABA receptor mediate?
a. sodium
b. calcium
c. chloride
d. potassium
e. all are true
ANSWER: c

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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information
43. The effects of ethanol on the brain arise in part from opening of ____ receptor Cl− channels.
a. glycine
b. aspartate
c. glutamate
d. γ-aminobutyrate (GABA)
e. all are true
ANSWER: d

44. All are catecholamine neurotransmitters EXCEPT:

a. γ-aminobutyrate (GABA).
b. L-dopa.
c. dopamine.
d. epinephrine.
e. norepinepherine.
ANSWER: a

45. Which of the following is correctly defined with regards to catecholamines?

a. reserpine increases brain monoamine levels by upregulation of vesicle production
b. bromocriptine is a dopamine antagonist linked to some Parkinson’s disease indidences
c. cocaine binds to monoamine reuptake transporters on the presynaptic membrane thus prolonging the effects
of monoamines
d. Prozac is a highly specific dopamine reuptake inhibitor
e. none of the above
ANSWER: c

46. ____ act as an antidepressant by ____ levels of catacholamines in the brain.

a. Tricyclics; increasing
b. Tricyclics; decreasing
c. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors; increasing
d. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors; decreasing
e. Monoamine oxidases; decreasing
ANSWER: c

47. A muscarinic receptor is a subclass of ____ receptor, and can be inhibited by ____.
a. GABA; atropine
b. GABA; acetylcholine
c. acetylcholine; GABA
d. acetylcholine; atropine
e. acetylcholine; muscarine
ANSWER: d

48. Which of the following is not a peptide hormone?

a. adrenocorticotropic hormone
b. glucagon
c. aldosterone
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

d. calcitonin
e. all of the above are peptide hormones
ANSWER: c

49. Which of the following is true regarding the GTPase activity of Ras proteins?
a. under normal conditions, the GTPase activity is very high with most Ras proteins kept in an inactive state
b. Ras proteins have no inherent GTPase activity and rely upon the binding of GTPase-activating protein
c. mutations of the Ras protein cause GTPase activity to be extremely low
d. the GTPase-activating protein is inhibited by cAMP
e. none of the above
ANSWER: c

50. Across a normal cellular membrane, the potential is maintained with a positive charge on the outside of the cell and a
negative charge on the inside of the cell. Which of the following best explains the operation of the voltage sensor in the
voltage-gated sodium channel?
a. Under resting cellular conditions, the voltage sensor is normally pulled to the inside of the cell due to its high
arginine content
b. Under resting cellular conditions, the voltage sensor is normally pulled to the outside of the cell due to its
high lysine content
c. When the membrane is depolarized, the voltage sensor moves towards the outside of the membrane, allowing
opening of the activation gate
d. Both a and c occur
e. None of the above
ANSWER: d

51. Which of the following is NOT an event that would occur upon the binding of a hormone to a receptor?
a. a second messenger such as cAMP might be produced
b. inositol triphosphate causes the release of potassium from the ER
c. protein kinase C is activated by DAG
d. tyrosine kinase receptors dimerize and undergo phosphorylation
e. all of the above occur
ANSWER: b

52. Which of the following is NOT a second messenger?

a. cGMP
b. norepinephrine
c. nitric oxide
d. diacylglycerol
e. 2+
Ca
ANSWER: b

53. Which of the following is a G-protein coupled receptor?

a. EGF receptor
b. insulin receptor
c. atrial natriuretic peptide receptor

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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information

d. inhibitory α2-receptor
e. EPO receptor
ANSWER: d

54. How are the receptors that mediate transmembrane signaling processes classified?
ANSWER:
All receptors that mediate transmembrane signaling processes fit into one of three following receptor
superfamilies:
1. The G-protein–coupled receptors are integral membrane proteins with an extracellular recognition site
for ligands and an intracellular recognition site for a GTP-binding protein.
2. The single-transmembrane segment (1-TMS) catalytic receptors are proteins with only a single
transmembrane segment and substantial globular domains on both the extracellular and the intracellular
faces of the membrane. The extracellular domain is the ligand recognition site, and the intracellular
catalytic domain is either a tyrosine kinase or a guanylyl cyclase.
3. Oligomeric ion channels consist of associations of protein subunits, each of which contains several
transmembrane segments. These oligomeric structures are ligand-gated ion channels. Binding of the
specific ligand typically opens the ion channel. The ligands for these ion channels are neurotransmitters.
TOPICS: 32.3 How Do Signal-Transducing Receptors Respond to the Hormonal Message?

55. Discuss the Ras protein and the effect of mutation on the ras gene.

ANSWER: The normal, cellular Ras protein is a GTP-binding protein that functions in a manner similar to that of other
G proteins, activating metabolic processes when GTP is bound and becoming inactive when GTP is
hydrolyzed to GDP. The GTPase activity of the normal Ras p21 is very low, as is appropriate for a G
protein that regulates long-term effects such as growth and differentiation. A specific GTPase-activating
protein (GAP) increases the GTPase activity of the Ras protein. Mutant (oncogenic) Ras proteins have
severely impaired GTPase activity, locking them in a state that activates cellular growth and metabolism in
tumor cells.
TOPICS: 32.4 How Are Receptor Signals Transduced?

56. Discuss the structure of the catalytic core of Protein Kinase A.

ANSWER: Most protein kinases share a common catalytic core first characterized in protein kinase A (PKA), the
enzyme that phosphorylates phosphorylase kinase. The active site of the catalytic subunit of PKA in a
2+
ternary complex with MnAMP–PNP (adenylyl imidodiphosphate associated with Mn ) and a
pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide includes a glycine-rich β-strand that acts as a flap over the triphosphate
166
moiety of the bound nucleotide. A conserved residue, Asp , is the catalytic base that deprotonates the
168
Ser/Thr-OH during phosphorylation, and Lys stabilizes the transition state of the reaction. Three Glu
residues on the enzyme are involved in recognition of the pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide.
TOPICS: 32.5 How Do Effectors Convert the Signals to Actions in the Cell?

57. Explain the effect of depolarization on voltage-gated ion channels.

ANSWER: Voltage-gated ion channels are specific either for Na+ or K+. These ion channels are normally closed at the
+
resting potential of –60 mV. When the potential difference rises to –40 mV, the “gates” of the Na channels
+ +
are opened and Na ions begin to flow into the cell. As Na enters the cell, the membrane potential
+
continues to increase and additional Na channels are opened. The potential rises to more than +30 mV. At
+ + + +
this point, Na influx slows and stops. As the Na channels close, K channels begin to open and K ions
stream out of the cell, returning the membrane potential to negative values. The potential eventually
+
overshoots its resting value a bit. At this point, K channels close, and the resting potential is eventually
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Chapter 32 - The Reception and Transmission of Extracellular Information
+ +
restored by action of the Na , K -ATPase and the other channels.
TOPICS: 32.7 How Do Neurotransmission Pathways Control the Function of Sensory Systems?

58. Explain how neurons communicate at cholinergic synapses.

ANSWER: In cholinergic synapses, small synaptic vesicles inside the synaptic knobs contain large amounts of
acetylcholine (approximately 10,000 molecules per vesicle). When the membrane of the synaptic knob is
2+ 2+
stimulated by an arriving action potential, special voltage-gated Ca channels open and Ca ions stream
into the synaptic knob, causing the acetylcholine-containing vesicles to attach to and fuse with the knob
membrane. The vesicles open, spilling acetylcholine into the synaptic cleft. Binding of acetylcholine to
specific acetylcholine receptors in the postsynaptic membrane causes opening of ion channels and the
creation of a new action potential in the postsynaptic neuron.
TOPICS: How Do Neurotransmission Pathways Control the Function of Sensory Systems?

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