C2006/F2402 ’11 Key to Exam #3

Only circle one answer unless it says otherwise. If it says ‘circle all correct answers’ there may be one, or more than one, correct answer. Explain everything unless it says specifically not to.

Each question or answer was worth 2 pts unless it says otherwise.

1. Suppose an enzyme is normally found in the lumen of the peroxisome.

A. The mRNA for this enzyme is probably translated on ribosomes attached to (peroxisomes) (mitochondria) (the ER) (the outer nuclear membrane) (ER or peroxisomes) (peroxisomes or mitochondria) (none of these).

B. To reach its normal location, the mRNA for this enzyme would have to pass through (a nuclear pore)

(the nucleolar membrane) (a translocon in the ER) (a coated pit) (a transport vesicle) (an endosome)

(the peroxisomal membrane) (the OMM) (the IMM). Circle all correct answers for B, and explain both parts A & B briefly.

Peroxisomal proteins are made on free ribosomes in the cytoplasm; the mRNA (not the protein) has to exit the nucleus to be translated in the cytoplasm. It is the protein, not the mRNA, that must cross the peroxisomal membrane.

2. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be a serious problem in newborns. The most common cause of hypoglycemia in infants is having a diabetic mother. This type of hypoglycemia resolves after a while, but it persists for a few days after birth.

A-1. The hypoglycemic infant is probably producing (too much insulin) (not enough insulin)

(too much glucagon) (either too little insulin or too much glucagon) (too much of either hormone) (beats me).

A-2. In the pregnant mother, the levels of blood sugar were probably (normal) (low) (elevated) (can’t predict).

The baby was exposed to high (maternal) blood sugar in utero, and made high levels of insulin in response. When the child is born, there is too much insulin for a normal level of sugar intake and/or blood sugar, and the excess insulin causes too much glucose uptake and therefore hypoglycemia. It takes a short while for the infant to readjust the levels of insulin production to match the levels of blood sugar.

B-1. Suppose hypoglycemia occurs shortly after feeding in a newborn. In that case, the hypoglycemia probably results primarily from abnormally (low glucose release) (high glucose uptake) (high glucose release)

(low glucose uptake) (high uptake & low release) (low uptake & high release).

B-2. Of the organs listed, which is/are the major effector(s) causing the problem? (pancreas) (muscle) (liver) (brain). Circle all correct answers.

The problem occurs right after feeding, when the infant is in the absorptive state, not later in the post-absorptive. Therefore the hypoglycemia must be caused by too much uptake (due to the high insulin) right after feeding, not too little release between feedings (due to low glucagon or persistent insulin).

3. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) activates the sympathetic branch of the ANS. This triggers sweating, shakiness, etc., which usually causes adults to eat before the condition gets so bad that the brain can’t function. Sweat glands are innervated by neurons of the sympathetic system. These neurons have their bodies in the CNS, and their axons synapse on the sweat glands. (These are the only neurons that innervate the sweat glands.) The neurons release AcCh, and receptors on the sweat glands are muscarinic receptors.

A. These neurons to the sweat glands most closely resemble ordinary (preganglionic sympathetic neurons) (postganglionic sympathetic neurons) (postganglionic PS neurons) (beats me).

These neurons have their cell bodies in the CNS, and secrete AcCh, like normal preganglionic ANS neurons. (Note preganglionic PS neurons is not given as a choice.) The nature of the receptor on the next cell, the effector, is not a property of the neuron, and doesn’t matter here.

B. The receptors on the sweat glands are the ones to be expected on (the effectors of the PS)

(the effectors of the sympathetic) (the effectors in the somatic system) (ganglia of the PS)

(ganglia of sympathetic) (ganglia of the somatic). Circle all correct answers.

Of the choices given, only the effectors of the PS have muscarinic AcCh receptors. One of the following specifics had to be mentioned for full credit: AcCh is the NT in ganglia of the ANS, and in the effectors of the somatic system, but the receptors are all nicotinic. The effectors of the sympathetic branch of the ANS usually use adrenergic (NE) receptors. There are no ganglia in the somatic system.


4. Vasopressin (VP) is a peptide hormone that has two different GPCRs. VP receptor A (VPRA) is found in peripheral blood vessels; VP receptor B (VPRB) is found in kidney cells. VP causes peripheral blood vessels to constrict; VP stimulates water transport in kidney cells.

A. From the info given above (ignore any additional info below or on other pages), what can you conclude about the VP receptors?

A-1. The 2 GPCRs could bind to (the same G protein) (different G proteins) (either way) (neither – GPCRs do not bind directly to G proteins).

A-2. Which VPR should be part of a channel? (VPRA) (VPRB) (both) (neither) (one or the other, but not both) (beats me).

Different GPCRs can bind to different G proteins and have different effects. However dif. GPCRs can bind to the same G protein, and trigger the same pathway, yet still have different effects in dif. cells. You’ll get different effects if the target proteins present in the cells – the ones that get modified at the end of the signaling cascade -- are different.

B. VP (a peptide) and epinephrine have the same effect on the smooth muscle of the arterioles. (Epi has no effect on water transport in kidney cells.) In arteriole smooth muscle, the two hormones, VP and epi, could both activate or bind to (the same receptor) (the same G protein) (both) (neither).


Receptors are specific for their ligands, and VP and epi are very different in chemical shape and properties. So two different receptors are required. However, both can bind to the same G protein. This G protein then triggers the same pathway (say IP3 or cAMP) and produces the same effect, regardless of which ligand-receptor combination was used. .

C. You have an agonist of VP that binds to VPRA but not to VPRB. Suppose a student who has just been meditating takes the VP agonist.

C-1-a. You measure the amount of vasoconstriction and/or water transport in kidney. You would expect water transport in the kidney to (increase) (decrease) (stay the same), AND

C-1-b. You would expect vasoconstriction to (increase) (decrease) (stay the same). No explanation needed for C-1; use back if you think it’s necessary.

C-2. Suppose the student who took the agonist gets an unexpected phone call from the dean demanding that s/he come in immediately for a meeting. Given all the information so far, will the phone call have any effect, in addition to, the effect(s) of the agonist? You would expect an additional effect on (water transport in the kidney) (vasoconstriction) (both)* (neither). Explain your reasoning – it’s the reasoning here that counts, not the answer!


For C, 1 pt each answer; 3 pts for explanation. (*‘both’ was okay if properly explained as at * below.)

A call from the dean should cause stress, and subsequent release of epinephrine. (2 pts) Epi causes vasoconstriction, and so does the VP agonist. If the system is already saturated, and max. constriction is already reached, or the G protein is already completely activated, then adding epi won’t make any difference. But since the agonist and epi use different receptors, there is a good chance that the effects will be additive, and having epi will activate more G protein and result in more vasoconstriction.

*Stress will activate the sympathetic system, and the activation will ultimately cause release of VP. This will cause a change in water transport, and may cause a change in vasoconstriction. However, the agonist has already stimulated the VP receptors, so it’s not clear that the VP will produce more vasoconstriction. The VP effect on water transport may take a while to show up – the VP causes more water retention, and reduces production of urine. However it doesn’t affect what’s already in the bladder – it’s the nervous system that causes the bladder muscle to relax and hold more, not the VP.

D. VP causes a rise in IP3 in smooth muscle of arterioles and a rise in cAMP in kidney cells

D-1. Suppose you inject VP and an inhibitor of PDE into a suitable experimental organism. Compared to the response with VP, alone, you would expect (more contraction) (less contraction) (more water transport) (less water transport)

(no difference). Circle all correct answers and explain.

PDE converts cyclic AMP to plain AMP. If you block PDE, the cAMP lasts longer, and so does the activation of PKA and any other response to cAMP. PDE has no effect on the IP3 pathway.

D-2. Suppose you inject VP and an inhibitor of GTP hydrolysis. Compared to the response with VP, alone, you would expect (more contraction) (less contraction) (more water transport) (less water transport)

(no difference). Circle all correct answers (2 pts each) and explain.

VP works in both tissues by activating a G protein. Activation of any G protein requires GTP/GDP exchange; deactivation requires hydrolysis of the GTP to GDP. If you block hydrolysis, the activation of the G protein lasts longer, and so do the processes stimulated (directly or indirectly) by the G protein.


C2006/F2402 ’11 Exam #3 ID #:______________________________

5. There are many different glycogen storage diseases (GSD). In each condition, a different step in glycogen metabolism is affected. To summarize, people with GSD type 1 have no glucose phosphatase. People with type 5 have no muscle phosphorylase. People with type 6 have no liver phosphorylase. (More details on GSD and the enzymes on last page.) Some people with GSD develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

A. A normal person can compensate for low blood sugar by (glycolysis) (glycogen breakdown)

(glycogen synthesis) (gluconeogenesis) (none of these). Circle all correct answers. (2 pts each answer.)


Liver is the primary effector for releasing glucose to correct for low blood sugar. The glucose can come from glycogenolysis (depolymerization of glycogen), or from gluconeogenesis -- manufacture of glucose from smaller molecules, such as lactate. Both occur in the liver. Muscles also breakdown glycogen, but they don’t release glucose – they release lactate, which the liver either breaks down further for energy generation, or converts to glucose for release or storage (as glycogen).

B. Which of the following should be able to compensate for high blood sugar? People who are

(GSD type 1) (GSD type 5) (GSD type 6) (normal) (none of these). Circle all correct answers. (2 pts for circling them all; 2 pts for explaining why.)

To compensate for high blood sugar, a person has to be able to take sugar up from the blood; if there is extra, beyond immediate energy needs, the person must be able to store the glucose by synthesizing glycogen (or fat). All these people can do that. The GSD types have problems with breaking down glycogen, not with making or storing it.

C. Consider the homeostatic mechanism for regulation of blood glucose. In a person with GSD 1,

C-1. The primary problem is with the (effector(s)) (sensor(s)) (information flow from sensor to effector(s))

AND
C-2. There has been a change in the (set point) (regulated variable) (controlled process(es))

(critical values at which corrections occur). Circle all correct answers.

(1 pt each answer; 2 for explanation). The problem here is glucose release (the controlled process) by the liver (the effector). The regulated variable (glucose) and the desired value (the set point) remain unchanged. Glucose release is controlled by adjusting the rate of Glucose-phosphate hydrolysis, but the physiologically important process is glucose release, not hydrolysis.

D. Which of the following is most likely to develop hypoglycemia? A person with GSD type (1) (5) (6)

(1 or 5) (1 or 6) (5 or 6) (any of these are equally likely).


E. Who is the LEAST likely to develop hypoglycemia? A person with GSD type (1) (5) (6) (1 or 5) (1 or 6)

(5 or 6) (any of these are equally unlikely).

2 points each answer; 2 points (each) for explaining the situation in people with each of the three types of GSD. (10 pts total for D & E). Note that phosphorylase breaks down glycogen (a glucose polymer) to glucose phosphate, and phosphatase removes the phosphate from the glucose.

People with GSD1 can not release glucose from the liver at all – both glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis produce glucose phosphate, and the glucose is trapped in side the cell if the phosphate cannot be removed. Therefore these people are very likely to develop hypoglycemia.

People with GSD6 can generate (& release) some glucose from gluconeogenesis in liver. They can’t break down liver glycogen, but they can breakdown muscle glycogen to lactate, convert the lactate to glucose phosphate in liver, remove the phosphate, and release the glucose. So they can develop hypoglycemia, but it’s not as severe a problem as with type 1.

People with GSD5 have no problems with release of glucose from the liver. They may generate less lactate (from muscle) for the liver to use for gluconeogenesis, but they have normal liver function. Since the muscle is not directly involved in release of glucose, and their problem is with muscle, they are least likely to develop hypoglycemia.