UNIVERSIDAD EL BOSQUE

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS
QUÍMICA FARMACÉUTICA

TALLER DE BIOLOGÍA CELULAR Y MOLECULAR

Fecha: ______________________ GRUPO:_______________ NOTA: ________________

Nombre:____________________________________________________________________

15-95. The primary role of platelets is to control blood clotting. When they encounter the
exposed basement membrane (collagen fibers) of a damaged blood vessel or a newly forming
fibrin clot, they change their shape from round to spiky and stick to the damaged area. At the
same time, they begin to secrete serotonin and ATP, which accelerate similar changes in newly
arriving platelets, leading to the rapid formation of a clot. The platelet response is regulated
by protein phosphorylation. Significantly, platelets contain high levels of two protein kinases:
PKC, which initiates serotonin release, and myosin light-chain kinase, which mediates the
change in shape. When platelets are stimulated with thrombin, the light chain of myosin and
an unknown protein of 40,000 Daltons are phosphorylated. When platelets are treated with a
calcium ionophore, which increases membrane permeability to Ca 2+, only the myosin light
chain is phosphorylated; when they are treated with diacylglycerol, only the 40-kd protein is
phosphorylated.

Experiments using a range of concentrations of diacylglycerol in the presence or absence of

calcium ionophore show that the extent of phosphorylation of the 40-kd protein depends only
on the concentration of diacyl glycerol (Figure 15-22A). Serotonin release, however, depends
on diacylglycerol and the calcium ionophore (Figure 15-22B).

A. Based on these experimental observations, describe the normal sequence of molecular

events that leads to phosphorylation of the myosin light chain and the 40-kd protein.
Indicate how the calcium ionophore and diacylglycerol treatments interact with the
normal sequence of events.
B. Why do you think serotonin release requires both calcium ionophore and
diacylglycerol?