Research Proposal

Research Proposal

Background

Scaffold proteins are the regulators of transmitting key signaling pathways. These proteins are used to perform the function of interacting or binding the multiple signaling pathways and turning them into different complexes. These pathways help in transmitting signal transduction and then help in organizing complexes to specific areas in the human cells for example cytoplasm, cell membrane, nucleus, Golgi and mitochondria. There are key four functions performed by scaffold proteins these are: firstly it helps in tethering signaling transduction, second transmitting the components to specific areas in a cell, third developing signal transduction by developing coordination between positive and negative feedback signals and fourth it insulate correct protein signals from the competing protein signals.

Recently data related to multipurpose function of scaffold proteins was challenged as people criticized the limits of this protein. Firstly it was criticized that scaffold protein has limited possibilities for amplification of the signals and secondly it was found that the methods available to assess the vivo roles of transduction were not reliable. Thus a new protein was identified for signaling transduction and it was call RAF kinase or mitogen activated protein. It was found that the new protein was able to perform multiple scaffold functions like signaling transduction. The researchers Burack and Shaw (2000) found that MAPK scaffolds hold the kinases in a way that directly enhances the interaction and thus increases the transfer rate of phosphate.

Under the MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) there are three categories identified and the specific regulation is achieved in different parts by using the scaffold and securing the proteins. Scaffold proteins act as organizing different kinds of Kinases for activation, sequencing and localizing the signals of the complexes.

The researchers Garrington and Johnson (1999) have identified three categories of the MAPK model. These are MKKK, MKK and MAPK; among which MKKK helps in transmitting a wide range of extracellular signals and this includes factors of growth, differentiation and stress. The MKKK helps in activating one of the large numbers of MKKs and these are in comparison much straighter and specific to the target of MAPK. After MAPK are activated they are able to transmit transcription factors, other kinases, leads to up streaming of regulators, Ras exchange factors and are able to regulate the enzymes in the body. They also help in controlling the cellular responses that are included in growth, differentiation and apoptosis.

Another research was conducted by Morrison and Davis (2003) that found that Raf Kinases acts as scaffold protein in signal transduction. They stated that the group of serine or threonine protein kinases is able to respond to mediates of cells and to several other extracellular stimuli for example the growth factors and cytokines. The Raf Kinases are among the extracellular signal regulated and they help in activating two other stress activated signals. The scaffold proteins interact with the MAPK proteins in proposing the pathways that could develop a functioning model and it will also control the specific signals transduction. Thus the report has taken into ...