C2.1 Chemical Signaling

Question 1

What is signal transduction?

Answer 1

The process by which molecular signals are converted from one form to another so that they can be transmitted from outside to inside the cell and bring about a response.

Question 2

What do receptors do?

Answer 2

They bind ligands and link them to a biochemical pathway to cause a cellular response.

Question 3

Are receptors specific?

Answer 3

Yes, their binding sites only fit specific ligands. This increases efficency

Question 4

Intracellular Receptors

Answer 4

Located within the cells cytoplasm. Bind ligands that can cross the plasma membrane.

Question 5

Extracellular receptors

Answer 5

Span the plasma membrane with regions inside and regions outside the cell. The bind ligands which cannot cross the plasma membrane.

Question 6

Three stages of signal transduction

Answer 6

Reception, Transduction, Response

Question 7

Describe reception

Answer 7

A ligand binds to its receptor, this changes the receptors shape, which passes a signal from the ligand to the receptor.

Question 8

Describe Trandsduction

Answer 8

The activated receptor triggers a chain of biochemical reactions in the cell with many different enzymes involved.

Question 9

Describe response

Answer 9

The signal cascade (entire reaction from reception) results in a specific cellular response. (this depends on type of ligand and receptor?)

Question 10

Quorum sensing

Answer 10

Cell to cell communication between bacterial cells. Allows the bacteria to act in coordination with each other.