16 Questions
What happens to the seventh cell in each ommatidium when the 'sevenless' gene is absent in Drosophila melanogaster?
The seventh cell in each ommatidium fails to form.
What type of receptor is encoded by the 'sevenless' gene?
Tyrosine kinase receptor (very similar to the EGF receptor in humans)
What is the function of SOS protein in receptor-associated tyrosine kinase action?
It provokes nucleotide exchange by G-proteins (guanine nucleotide binding), such as Ras.
What happens to the cytoplasmic tail of a receptor during receptor-associated tyrosine kinase action?
It gets phosphorylated.
What can bind to activated Ras?
Binding domains from other proteins.
What are some strategies for therapy targeting components of signaling pathways in cancer?
Novel molecular therapeutic approaches using specific inhibitors, small-molecule compounds, antibodies, peptides, antisense molecules, and small interfering RNA (siRNA).
What is the significance of crosstalk of signaling pathways in cancer?
It allows for the targeting of multiple pathways with specific inhibitors.
What are some examples of signaling pathways involved in CRC?
EGFR/MAPK, Notch, TGF-β, and Wnt signaling pathways.
What is cancer characterized by at the cellular level?
Uncontrolled cell proliferation
What is the primary difference between signaling pathways in cancer cells and normal cells?
Tweaked or altered signaling pathways
What is the role of receptors in cell signaling?
To gather and funnel signals from the cell surface to the cytoplasm
What is the significance of studying normal fibroblasts in understanding cancer signaling?
To understand normal signaling pathways and identify what goes wrong in cancer cells
How do oncoproteins and tumor suppressors contribute to cancer development?
By creating signaling imbalances
What is the role of the Ras protein in cell signaling?
To transmit signals from the receptor through the membrane to the nucleus
What is the effect of adding fresh serum to serum-starved fibroblasts?
Allowing synchronous growing and cell division
How does an aberrant signal processing lead to cancer?
Through uncontrolled proliferation
Study Notes
What is Cancer?
- Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell proliferation
- Cancer and normal cells utilize almost identical control circuitry
- Pathways in cancer cells have been tweaked
Growth Factors and Signaling Pathways
- Growth factors (ligand/signaling molecules) facilitate cell communication
- Receptors displayed at the cell surface gather signals and funnel them to the cytoplasm
Studies of Signaling Pathway
- Studies start with normal fibroblasts
- Serum starvation stops cell growth, while adding fresh serum with mitogenic growth factors allows synchronous growth and cell division
Oncoproteins and Tumor Suppressors
- Oncoproteins and tumor suppressors create cancer through signaling imbalances
- They are key players in cell signaling
Ras Protein
- Ras was identified as an oncogene
- Mutated Ras protein causes cell transformation, making cells grow faster
- Ras is involved in signaling from the receptor through the membrane to the nucleus
Ras Signaling
- Ras is activated by SOS protein
- Activated Ras has an effector loop that allows binding domains from other proteins
Signaling Pathways in Cancer
EGFR/MAPK Signaling Pathway in CRC
- Not mentioned in the text
Notch Signaling Pathway in CRC
- Not mentioned in the text
TGF-β Signaling Pathway in CRC
- Not mentioned in the text
Wnt Signaling Pathway in CRC
- Not mentioned in the text
Crosstalk of Signaling Pathways
- Signaling pathways interact with each other
Strategies for Therapy
- Targeting components of signaling pathways in cancer using novel molecular therapeutic approaches
- Using specific inhibitors, small-molecule compounds, antibodies, peptides, antisense molecules, and small interfering RNA (siRNA)
Learn about the role of growth factors and signaling pathways in cancer cells, including how they differ from normal cells and the process of cell communication via signaling molecules.
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