08 - Cell communication Flashcards
Gap junction
a special connection between neighboring cells that allows them to communicate directly
Local signaling
Contact mediated or diffusion for a short distance
Long distance signaling
Cells communicate with each other over large distances
Paracrine signaling
is a type of cell communication where a cell produces signaling molecules that travel a short distance to affect nearby cells
Synaptic signaling
Highly specialized type of local signaling, occurs in animal nervous systems
Endocrine signaling
Specialized endocrine cells secrete hormones into bodily fluids, often blood.
Hormones
Chemicals made by glands in the body that travel through the bloodstream to send messages to other parts of the body
Signal transduction pathway
Sequence of changes in a series of different molecules
Signal reception
An epinephrine molecule
binds to a receptor on a
muscle cell.
signal transduction
Relay molecules transmit
the signal, ultimately
activating an enzyme.
Cellular response
The enzyme breaks down
glycogen, releasing glucose
that fuels the leg muscles.
Ligand
Term for a molecule that specifically binds to another molecule
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
a cell - surface transmembrane receptor that works with the help of a G protein
Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)
Belong to a major class of plasma membrane receptors, having enzymatic activity
Ligand-gated ion channel
type of membrane channel receptor containing a region that can act as a “gate”, opening or closing the channel when the receptor changes shape
Intracellular receptor
Found in either the cytoplasm or nucleus of target cells
Protein kinase
A enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from ATP to protein
Protein phosphatase
Enzymes that can rapidly remove phosphate groups from proteins
Phosphorylation
process where a phosphate group is added to a molecule, like a protein or sugar
Dephosphorylaton
Removing of phosphate groups from proteins by enzyme
Second messenger
a small molecule inside a cell that helps transmit signals from a receptor on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell. Small, nonprotein, water-soluble molecules or ions
Cyclic AMP (cAMP)
Small molecule produced from ATP
Adenylyl cyclase
An enzyme embedded in plasma membrane, converts ATP to cAMP
Epinephrine
(adrenaline) , a hormone and neurotransmitter produced by adrenal glands
Protein kinase A
protein kinase A (PKA) is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes by adding phosphate groups to other proteins. PKA is like a switch operator inside the cell that helps control and regulate different cellular activities by flipping switches (phosphorylating proteins) to activate or deactivate them.
First messenger
Is considered to be the extracellular signaling molecule–the ligand– that binds to the membrane receptor
