1.4 communication and signalling Flashcards
Extracellular signalling molecules definition
Molecules that a multicellular organism uses to send messages between different cells, which are produced outside the cell.
Types of extracellular signalling molecules
Peptide hormones
Steroid hormones
Neurotransmitter
Nervous communication definition
The transport of electrical signals across neurones.
Hormonal communication definition
The transport of extracellular signalling molecules around the body.
Nervous communication nature of signal
Electrical impulses and neurotransmitter
Nervous communication transmission of signal
Across a neurone
Nervous communication target cell
Any cell with a connection to neurones
Nervous communication time for response to occur
Fast
Nervous communication duration for response
Shorter
Nervous communication extent of response
Localised
(specific)
Hormonal communication nature of signal
Extracellular signalling molecules
Transmission of hormonal communication
Through blood stream
Hormonal communication target cells
Any cell in body
Hormonal cells time for response to occur
Slower
Duration of hormonal communication
Longer
Extent of hormonal communication response
Widespread
Hydrophobic extracellular signalling molecules
Steroid hormones
Hydrophilic extracellular signalling molecules
Peptide hormones and neurotransmitters.
Receptor molecules definition
A molecule with a specific binding site for an extracellular signalling molecule, which changes conformation upon binding with the ligand.
How do receptors on the outside of cells work
A conformational change occurs which initiated a response inside the cell.
Characteristics of receptors
Different cell types produce different signalling molecules
Different receptors will bind to different signalling molecules
Different types of cell tissue with same receptor and signal molecule can trigger different metabolic pathways
Tissue specific response
Where a different cell tissue with the same signalling molecule and receptor will trigger a different intracellular pathway.
Steroid/ hydrophobic signalling molecule process
Leave endocrine gland and travel straight to the cell through bloodstream.
Travel through the plasma membrane.
Bind with receptor inside the cell forming a hormone receptor complex.
The transcription factor will bind with DNA in nucleus
This will then stimulate or inhibit the transcription of DNA.
This will increase or decrease the rate of specific protein production.
Hormone receptor complex
Where a hormone and a receptor bind together
Hormone response elements
Sites on DNA which hormone transcription factors will bind with which will alter the rate of transcription.
Transcription factors
Hormone receptor complexes which bind to DNA at transcription elements.