Diabetes Case Study

Directions: Read the following excerpts and then answer the associated questions with each part. You may work in your
small groups, but do NOT split up the assignment. It goes in order and this is actually information that is good for you to
know for life.

Questions

1. What are the three parts of the cell transduction pathway, in order?

Reception, Transduction, Response

2. Where are receptor proteins found within the cell?

The receptor proteins are found within or bound to the plasma membrane.

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
Questions
Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
 3. What is doing the phosphorylating and what is being phosphorylated?

Kinases are the enzyme doing the phosphorylation, and amino acids are being phosphorylated.

4. What is the role of ATP in cellular signaling?

ATP activates the reaction, providing the energy needed to phosphorylate the amino acid.

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
Questions
Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
 5. What type of feedback is described on the previous page? How do you know? Is it reversible or irreversible?

The feedback described is negative feedback, as it is slowing or stopping the cell signaling process in order to maintain
homeostasis. It is reversible, due to the enzyme phosphatase being able to add/remove a phosphate.

6. What is the counter protein to kinase? Why do we need a counter protein?

The counter protein to kinase is phosphatase. We need counter proteins in order to reactivate inactive proteins.

7. Provide 3 examples of common secondary messengers.

Cyclic-AMP, Ca^2+ ions, phosphoinositides (PIP3, PIP2, etc), and diacylglycerol (DAG).

Questions

8. Explain how signal amplification occurs within a cell.

Signal amplification occurs when more kinases are activated. Each activated kinase activates multiple others, called a
cascade, and an example of positive feedback.

9. THINK! Why would there need to be multiple steps for inhibition within a cell signaling pathway.

Since cell signaling is an example of positive feedback, more amplification occurs with each step. Opportunities for
inhibition are important so that damage to the cell doesn’t occur, and the correct response is attached with the initial
signal.

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
Questions

10. How are diabetics interfering with their own cell signaling?

Diabetics interfere with their own cell signaling by introducing insulin manually into the body, a hormone that naturally
occurs with a fully functioning pancreas. The insulin can keep the blood glucose levels under control, to stop the effects.

11. What is the body response to increased blood glucose from eating?

The body’s response is to release insulin into the bloodstream.

12. With a diet like keto, where proteins are one of the major sources of energy, what is the impact on the blood?
Explain.

The blood’s pH can be lowered due to the buildup of ketoacids, which can cause severe issues such as kidney problems,
blindness, heart attacks or even death.

13. Why should diabetics check their feet?

In order to look out for blisters that have gone unnoticed, since diabetics can lose feeling in feet, and on top of that have
poor wound healing.

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
Questions

14. Quick Research! This article was written in 2007. How have the financial impact of diabetes changed from 2007
to now (2020)? Consider also that Type-1 is genetic, so an entire family will most likely have numerous members
with this condition.

The financial impact has probably greatly increased, as the population is constantly increasing, and due to genetics,
multiple people in one bloodline could have it.

15. What are symptoms to look out for if you are concerned you could be developing Type-2 diabetes?

Blurred vision, fatigue, loss of sensation in limbs, poor wound healing.

Questions

16. Do what Dr. Kim is asking of Mia and circle/highlight the areas of Excerpt 3 that are involved with each of the 3
steps of the cell transduction pathway. Each player needs to be in one of the 3 categories.

Reception- Steps 1, 2

Transduction- Steps 3-7

Response- Step 8

17. What is the role of GLUT4? By what process is it added to the cell membrane?

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
The role of GLUT4 is to allow glucose into the cell through the cell membrane. It is added to the cell membrane as a
result of insulin signaling the cell.

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson
Questions

18. Predict which cells in the body might need a higher reactivity to insulin. Support your claim.

The feet may need higher reactivity to insulin, due to the distance from the brain, and diabetics’ persistent issues with
feet.

19. What role does genetics play in diabetes?

DNA within the nucleus determines the receptors found on the cell membrane, dealing with the issues in diabetes. In
addition, Type-1 diabetes is genetic, meaning it can be passed down from parents to children.

20. THINK! If insulin is not the issue for some diabetics, then what else could be the cause of their condition?

A lack of the needed receptors to insulin on the membrane

Edited from National Center for Case Study Teaching by Kristy J. Wilson