Chapter 09 – Cell Communication
31. Many receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways lead to the activation of Ras. To activate
Ras, it is necessary to recruit a guanine nucleotide exchange factor to the plasma membrane,
because Ras is a membrane associated protein. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors, such as
SOS, stimulate the exchange of GDP for GTP. However, SOS cannot bind directly to most
RTKs. The protein Grb2 has a domain that can bind to phosphorylated tyrosines, and another
domain that can bind to SOS. Therefore, Grb2 can bind to active RTKs and recruit SOS to the
plasma membrane. Grb2 is an example of what kind of signaling molecule?
32. Ste5 binds to MAPKKK, MAPKK, and MAPK to organize the kinase cascade. What type
of signaling molecule is Ste5?