Multiple Choice
Which of the following describes a hormone that CANNOT exhibit its full effect without the presence of another hormone?
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16. The Endocrine System
Membrane Bound Receptors and Secondary Messengers
2:48 minutesProblem 11
Textbook Question
Some hormones act by:
a. Increasing the synthesis of enzymes
b. Converting an inactive enzyme into an active enzyme
c. Affecting only specific target organs
d. All of these
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the role of hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various physiological processes by interacting with target cells.
Step 2: Analyze option (a): Increasing the synthesis of enzymes. Some hormones can stimulate cells to produce more enzymes by activating gene expression, leading to increased enzyme synthesis.
Step 3: Analyze option (b): Converting an inactive enzyme into an active enzyme. Certain hormones can activate enzymes already present in the cell by modifying them, such as through phosphorylation.
Step 4: Analyze option (c): Affecting only specific target organs. Hormones typically bind to receptors on specific target cells or organs, ensuring that their effects are localized and regulated.
Step 5: Conclude that since all these mechanisms are ways hormones act, the correct comprehensive answer is that hormones can act by all of these methods.
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Video duration:
2mKey Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Hormone Mechanisms of Action
Hormones influence cellular activity through various mechanisms, including increasing the synthesis of enzymes by stimulating gene expression, or activating existing enzymes by converting them from inactive to active forms. These mechanisms enable hormones to regulate metabolic processes efficiently.
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Actions of Steroid Hormones
Enzyme Activation and Synthesis
Hormones can either promote the production of new enzymes by enhancing protein synthesis or activate pre-existing enzymes through modification. This dual ability allows hormones to rapidly and specifically alter cellular functions in response to physiological needs.
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Target Organ Specificity of Hormones
Hormones affect only specific target organs or cells that possess the appropriate receptors. This specificity ensures that hormonal signals produce precise physiological effects without widespread, non-specific actions throughout the body.
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