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Recap of Insulin Signaling As A Growth Factor definitions

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  • Insulin
    A 51-amino acid peptide hormone acting as a ligand to initiate cellular growth signaling via receptor binding.
  • Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
    A membrane protein that undergoes autophosphorylation upon ligand binding, triggering downstream signaling.
  • Autophosphorylation
    A process where a receptor adds phosphate groups to its own tyrosine residues, enabling full activation.
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate 1
    A protein phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, serving as a platform for adaptor protein recruitment.
  • Grb2
    An adaptor protein connecting phosphorylated substrates to guanine exchange factors via SH2 and SH3 domains.
  • SH2 Domain
    A protein region that binds specifically to phosphorylated tyrosine residues on target proteins.
  • SH3 Domain
    A protein region that interacts with proline-rich sequences, facilitating connections to exchange factors.
  • SOS
    A guanine exchange factor enabling RAS activation by promoting GDP-GTP exchange.
  • RAS
    A small GTPase acting as a molecular switch, initiating kinase cascades upon activation.
  • RAF1
    A MAPKK that phosphorylates and activates MEK, propagating the growth signal.
  • MEK
    A kinase activated by RAF1, which in turn phosphorylates ERK in the signaling cascade.
  • ERK
    A MAP kinase that translocates to the nucleus to regulate transcription factors for cell growth.
  • Phosphatase
    An enzyme responsible for removing phosphate groups, contributing to signal termination.
  • GTP Hydrolysis
    A reaction converting GTP to GDP, inactivating RAS and ending the signaling process.
  • GAP Protein
    A GTPase activating protein that accelerates GTP hydrolysis, ensuring timely signal termination.