A single epinephrine molecule can cause the release of thousands of glucose molecules from glycogen in a liver cell.Why is this a useful feature of this signal transduction pathway?
A) Having multiple steps in a signal transduction pathway increases the complexity of the system.
B) The body produces minimal amounts of epinephrine and circulates minimal amounts of this hormone in the blood.
C) The liver cell synthesizes only the proteins needed for this signal transduction pathway and not others involved in pathways not active in the liver.
D) The liver cell exhibits only on its surface receptors, such as the epinephrine receptor, that are needed for liver cell functions.
E) More protein components present in a signal transduction pathway increase the chances for a problem to arise via a mutation event.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The body produces minimal amounts of epinephrine and circulates minimal amounts of this hormone in the blood, so amplification of the signal is necessary for a physiological response. The release of thousands of glucose molecules from glycogen in a liver cell is an effective way to amplify the signal and provide the necessary response.

A Single Epinephrine Molecule Can Cause the Release of Thousands