Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can name the three stages of cell signalling and say which stage any component belongs to. (Guide: “From signal to response”; Practice Q5)
- I can explain how a receptor’s ligand-binding domain makes it specific, and that ligands can be peptides, proteins or small molecules. (Guide: “Reception: ligands and receptors”)
- I can predict whether a receptor is on the surface or in the cytoplasm or nucleus from the type of ligand, and explain why. (Guide: “Where is the receptor?”; Practice Q2, Q5)
- I can explain how ligand binding changes the shape of the receptor’s intracellular domain and starts transduction. (Guide: “Where is the receptor?”; Practice Q5, Q6)
- I can describe, step by step, a G protein-coupled receptor pathway that uses cAMP. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q1)
- I can explain how a ligand-gated channel responds by opening or closing, and why its response is fast. (Guide: “Ligand-gated ion channels”; Practice Q3)
- I can explain the jobs of kinases, phosphatases and second messengers, and name responses such as growth, secretion and gene expression. (Guide: “Transduction” and “Response”)
Calculation and skills
- I can calculate the amplification in a model cascade, dividing where several molecules activate one. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q7)
- I can read a log-scale chart of molecule numbers. (Guide: Figure 2)
- I can use timing data, with linear interpolation, to propose the order of a kinase cascade. (Practice Q4)
Reasoning
- I can use experimental results to locate a receptor and to judge whether a molecule acts as a second messenger. (Guide: Worked example 2)
- I can tell apart evidence that a molecule is sufficient for a response and evidence that it is necessary. (Guide: Worked example 2)
- I can predict the behaviour of a receptor built from the domains of two different receptors. (Practice Q6)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 4.3, Signal Transduction Pathways, or return to the course roadmap.