biology

Signal transducing adaptor protein

Signal transducing adaptor protein is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Signal transducing adaptor protein rather than just read about it. In short: Signal transducing adaptor proteins (STAPs) are proteins that are accessory to main proteins in a signal transduction pathway. Adaptor proteins contain a variety of protein-binding modules that link protein-binding partners together and facilitate the creation of larger signaling complexes.

Key takeaways

Signal transducing adaptor protein belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Signal transducing adaptor protein to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Signal transducing adaptor protein from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Signal transducing adaptor proteins (STAPs) are proteins that are accessory to main proteins in a signal transduction pathway. Adaptor proteins contain a variety of protein-binding modules that link protein-binding partners together and facilitate the creation of larger signaling complexes. These proteins tend to lack any intrinsic enzymatic activity themselves, instead mediating specific protein–protein interactions that drive the formation of protein complexes. Examples of adaptor proteins include MYD88, Grb2 and SHC1.

Signaling components Much of the specificity of signal transduction depends on the recruitment of several signalling components such as protein kinases and G-protein GTPases into short-lived active complexes in response to an activating signal such as a growth factor binding to its receptor.

Domains Adaptor proteins usually contain several domains within their structure (e.g., Src homology 2 (SH2) and SH3 domains) that allow specific interactions with several other specific proteins. SH2 domains recognise specific amino acid sequences within proteins containing phosphotyrosine residues and SH3 domains recognise proline-rich sequences within specific peptide sequence contexts of proteins. There are many other types of interaction domains found within adaptor and other signalling proteins that allow a rich diversity of specific and coordinated protein–protein interactions to occur within the cell during signal transduction.

Examples of adaptor proteins Adaptor proteins include:

BCAR3 – Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance protein 3 CBL – Casitas B-lineage Lymphoma FRS2 – Fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2 GAB2 – GRB2-associated binding protein 2 GRAP – GRB2-related adaptor protein GRAP2 – GRB2-related adaptor protein 2 GRB2 – Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 IRS1 – Insulin receptor substrate 1 LDLRAP1 – low-density lipoprotein receptor adaptor protein 1 MYD88 - Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 NCDN - Neurochondrin NCK1 – NCK adaptor protein 1 NCK2 – NCK adaptor protein 2 NOS1AP – nitric oxide synthase 1 (neuronal) adaptor protein PIK3AP1 – phosphoinositide-3-kinase adaptor protein 1 SH2B1 – SH2B adaptor protein 1 SH2B2 – SH2B adaptor protein 2 SH2B3 – SH2B adaptor protein 3 SH2D3A -SH2 domain containing 3A SH2D3C – SH2 domain containing 3C SNTA1 – Syntrophin, alpha 1 SHB – Src homology 2 domain containing adaptor protein B SLC4A1AP – solute carrier family 4 (anion exchanger), member 1, adaptor protein

See also Wikipedia:MeSH D12.776#MeSH D12.776.157.057 --- adaptor proteins.2C signal transducing Wikipedia:MeSH D12.776#MeSH D12.776.543.990.150 --- adaptor proteins.2C vesicular transport

References

Further reading TAB2 is an adaptor protein involved in the IL-1 signal transduction pathway: Takaesu G, Kishida S, Hiyama A, Yamaguchi K, Shibuya H, Irie K, Ninomiya-Tsuji J, Matsumoto K (April 2000). "TAB2, a novel adaptor protein, mediates activation of TAK1 MAPKKK by linking TAK1 to TRAF6 in the IL-1 signal transduction pathway". Molecular Cell. 5 (4): 649–58. doi:10.1016/S1097-2765(00)80244-0. PMID 10882101. Good article about adaptor proteins involved in protein kinase C-mediated signal transduction: Schechtman D, Mochly-Rosen D (October 2001). "Adaptor proteins in protein kinase C-mediated signal transduction". Oncogene. 20 (44): 6339–47. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1204778. PMID 11607837. A good article regarding the role of adaptor proteins involved with the T-cell antigen receptor: Samelson LE (2002). "Signal transduction mediated by the T cell antigen receptor: the role of adapter proteins". Annual Review of Immunology. 20 (1): 371–94. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.20.092601.111357. PMID 11861607. Signalling discussed with regard to adaptor proteins: Pawson, T. (1997). "Signaling Through Scaffold, Anchoring, and Adaptor Proteins". Science. 278 (5346): 2075–2080. Bibcode:1997Sci...278.2075P. doi:10.1126/science.278.5346.2075. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 9405336.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Signal transducing adaptor protein

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Signal transducing adaptor protein claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Signal transducing adaptor protein before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Signal transducing adaptor protein ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Signal transducing adaptor protein

In research: Signal transducing adaptor protein appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Signal transducing adaptor protein in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Signal transducing adaptor protein is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cell signaling, Proteins, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Signal transducing adaptor protein outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Signal transducing adaptor protein” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Signal transducing adaptor protein in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Signal transducing adaptor protein means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Signal transducing adaptor protein out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Signal transducing adaptor protein in simple terms?

Why does Signal transducing adaptor protein matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Signal transducing adaptor protein?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Signal transducing adaptor protein.