Cell communication Flashcards
Essential parts of a cell signaling pathway
Signal (hormone, neurotransmitter, chemical) Receptor Signaling molecule Effector (causes change) Secondary messenger (ex- Ca+2)
Importance of cell communication
Differentiation Survival Coordination of systems Gene expression and regulation Grow/reproduce Transportation Movement
Signal transduction
Converting one type of signal to another
Extracellular signal converted into intracellular signal
Signal arrives at cell Designated receptor perceives signal Signal is transmitted into cell Signal is passed to various signaling components Signal arrives at destination Signal is turned off
First messenger
Extracellular substance/molecule that initiates signal
Receptor
Binds specifically to first messenger
Ligand
Molecule that binds to another
Cascade
Events that happen in a specific order after a stimulus (first messenger binds to receptor)
Second messenger
Intermediate non-protein molecules that relay signal
Response
What happens to the cell (change in gene expression and/or change in protein activity)
Effector protein
Affects the behavior of a cell
Mating pathway of yeast
Mating type a has a factor (mating pheromone)
a factor binds to protein, triggering cell arrest (use energy to fuse rather than to grow) and then cell fusion
Common themes in cell signaling
Specificity: a cell is bombarded with signals (can choose to respond or to ignore)
Amplification: small amount of signal can have big effects on a cell
Cross talk: many signaling cascades happening at once
Concentration: how the cell concentrates and compartmentalizes a signal
Signaling molecules
Hormones Neurotransmitters 2nd messengers (Ca+2) Growth factors Pheromones Amino acids Proteins Ions Nucleic acids Lipids
Endocrine signaling
Endocrine cells make signaling molecules (hormones)
Hormone travels through bloodstream to target tissue
Target cells recognize signal
Insulin signaling
Example of endocrine signaling
Sugar in bloodstream triggers release of insulin from pancreas
Insulin travels to target (example: muscle) and causes target cells to take up glucose
Paracrine signaling
Signal is made in one cell and diffuses through extracellular fluid to target cell
Epidermal growth factor
Protein that is made in one cell and triggers cell proliferation in a different cell
Example of paracrine signaling