Question

“Further in vitro study has shown that caffeine also increases levels of protein kinase A in the brain, decreasing the stimulation of β-secretase by reducing the Raf-1/NFxB inflammatory pathway.” Based on this quote, does caffeine have to go far into the cell to have an effect? Explain

Answer 1

As the caffeine is increasing the levels of protein kinase A and thus the cascade of downstream signalling pathway is affected, it doesn't need to go far into the cell. It can act through the G-protein coupled receptors present on the cell membrane as the protein kinase A is an intermediate formed during the GPCR activation. Hence the caffeine binds and activates the GPCRs present on the cell surface and thus doesn't need to go far into the cell to have an effect.

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