Join the IDNLearn.com community and get your questions answered by knowledgeable individuals. Get accurate and comprehensive answers from our network of experienced professionals.

Solid tumors are clusters of cancer cells and often contain blood vessels. When molecule B binds to the wild-type Brec protein in the plasma membrane of certain solid tumor cancer cells (Figure 1), the cancer cells express the membrane protein A and sometimes stimulate increased growth of blood vessels into the tumors.

Cells with a particular mutation in the Brec gene (Brec-MUT cells) have much increased expression levels of A and stimulate greater growth of blood vessels than do cancer cells with the wild-type Brec (Brec-WT cells); the cells with the mutant Brec can trigger intracellular signaling in the absence of B.

Researchers proposed that the signaling pathway modeled in Figure 1 is triggered by activation of the wild-type Brec and is associated with phosphorylation and activation of kinase D, expression of A, and the ability of the cancer cells to stimulate blood vessel growth.
Part A: Based on the signaling model shown in Figure 1, describe the role of molecule C-P in the activation of D.
Part B: Explain how a molecule such as kinase D can amplify an extracellular signal. Explain how the mutant Brec protein is able to activate kinase D even in the absence of its ligand.
Part C: Based on the proposed signaling pathway, predict the relative activity of kinase D in the Brec-WT cells compared with kinase D in the Brec-MUT cells when both cell types are grown in nutrient broth lacking B. Justify your prediction.
Part D: The researchers claim that treatment with a compound that inhibits dephosphorylation of the intracellular domain of the Brec protein will inhibit expression of A in Brec-WT cells but not in Brec-MUT cells. Based on the information provided, provide reasoning to refute their claim.


Solid Tumors Are Clusters Of Cancer Cells And Often Contain Blood Vessels When Molecule B Binds To The Wildtype Brec Protein In The Plasma Membrane Of Certain S class=

Sagot :

The molecule C-P phosphorylates and thus activates D, whereas Kinase D amplifies cellular signaling by phosphorylating many substrates. In this case, it is expected to observe kinase D overexpression in Brec-MUT cells.

Cancer, phosphorylation and signaling pathways

Cancer can be defined as a multifactorial disease, which is often associated with uncontrolled cell growth.

Cancer signaling may be associated with defective pathways such as, for example, a mutated kinase protein that affects normal downstream molecular cascades.

A kinase is a specific protein that acts to phosphorylate specific cellular substrates, thereby activating/deactivating a particular signaling pathway.

Learn more about cancer pathways here:

https://brainly.com/question/16103657