Signaling Proteins

1. Signaling Proteins By: Morgan Ellman Stephen Palma-Marinaro

2. What do they do? • One major function of proteins is the process of signaling. • This signaling process involves proteins called peptide hormones binding to receptor proteins on a particular cell. • As a result, the receptor protein within the process changes.

3. Roles on living things: • The peptide bonds within the signaling process work mainly within the endocrine and circulatory system, as they signal from cell to cell in order to cause a needed reaction. • For example, within the endocrine system, the anterior pituitary gland secretes prolactin (a peptide protein) that helps signal, and stimulate the mammary glands within the process of lactation.

4. How do they work? • Peptide hormones, like many other proteins, are synthesized from amino acids due to the messenger RNA (Ribonucleic acid) transcripts within a cell. • As far as shape, the peptide hormones are able to alter receptor protein’s conformation -or shape- causing it to fit with other cells in a new and improved way. This ultimately triggers new functions and activities with the cell that has received the signal.

5. How are they produced? • A certain gland releases the peptide hormone cells. • For example, the adrenal gland secretes the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) in response to stress or significant fatigue. • If the protein manufacturing process is interrupted, levels return to standard level.

6. Amino Acid Sequence • 1 mdskgsaqkg srlllllvvs nlllcqgvvs tpvcpngpgn cqvslrdlfd ravmvshyih • 61 nlssemfnef dkryaqgkgf itmalnscht sslptpedke xaqqthhevl mslilgllrs • 121 wndplyhlvt evrgmkgvpd ailsraieie eenkrllegm emifgqvipg aketepypvw • 181 sglpslqtkd edarhsafyn llhclrrdss kidtylklln criiynnnc

7. Illustration

8. Role • Pregnancy and lactation in mammals. • Without prolactin, female mammals would not be able to supply milk for offspring in early stages.

9. Similarity • This protein is found in many other genes. • Most mammals have this gene because energy is a vital part of any organisms life. • Milk.

10. Disorders related to prolactin: • One disorder results from excessive secretion of prolactin called “hyperprolactinemia.” • Hyperprolactinemia may cause a lack of menstrual cycles, as well as increased lactation in woman. In men, increased secretion of the hormone prolactin may cause enlarged breast tissue in males, as well as a decrease in sperm production.

11. Drug to counteract this disorder: • We propose a drug that would have dopamine in it. • Dopamine actually works as an inhibitor that binds to the receptors of the signaled proteins and blocks the synthesis of the protein hormone. • If the protein was conserved across organisms, we’d be able to treat disorders by targeting receptor proteins.

12. Work Cited • http://site.motifolio.com/images/Signaling-proteins-cross-link-receptor-chains-5111146.png • http://www.biologyreference.com/Ho-La/Hormones.html#b • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816110423.htm • http://courses.washington.edu/conj/bess/hyperprolactinemia/lactation.png • http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/prolactin.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peptide_synthesis • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peptide_hormone