Which type of protein can easily detach from the membrane and is often involved in signaling?

Peripheral proteins are typically associated with the surface of the membrane rather than embedded within it. They can easily detach from the membrane, which allows them to participate in various cellular processes, including signaling pathways. These proteins often interact with integral membrane proteins or with the lipid bilayer, and their transient association can help relay signals from receptors to other parts of the cell.

In cellular signaling, peripheral proteins can function as enzymes, linking signal transduction pathways and often acting as adapters that connect other proteins. Their ability to attach and detach allows them to be dynamic participants in processes such as cellular communication and response to environmental stimuli.

Conversely, integral proteins are embedded within the membrane, making them less likely to detach easily, and channel proteins are a subset of integral proteins specifically designed for transport rather than signaling. Transmembrane proteins span the membrane and, like integral proteins, are not easily separable without disrupting the membrane structure. Thus, the detachment and involvement in signaling characterize peripheral proteins as the answer to this question.