Cell Signaling Flashcards
What are the four reasons we need cell signalling?
- To process information
- For self preservation
- For voluntary movement
- For homeostasis
What is meant by self-preservation?
The activation of the reflex arc to protect ourself from danger
What are the two systems which provide the main lines of communication?
Nerve fibers of the central and peripheral nervous system
Blood vessels of the cardiovascular system
What line of communication is used for a rapid, instantaneous response?
The nerve fibres of the CNS and PNS
What line of communication is slower and more versatile?
The blood vessel system
What is meant by intercellular signalling?
Signalling between cells
What is meant by intracellular signalling?
Signalling within a cell
What are the four methods of signalling?
- Autocrine
- Endocrine
- Paracrine
- Communication between membrane attached proteins
What is meant by endocrine communication?
Hormone travels in the blood vessel and acts on a DISTANT target cell
How does glucagon act as an example of endocrine signalling?
Glucagon is released by the alpha cells of the Islets of Langerhans, and then transported in the blood to act on the liver, to stimulate glyconeogenesis and glycogenolysis to make more glucose
How does insulin provide an example of endocrine communication?
Insulin produced by the pancreas acts on muscle and adipose tissue
How does adrenaline provide an example of endocrine communication?
Produced by the adrenal glands and travels in the blood to act on many body systems like the lungs and trachea
What type of communication is shown in response to hypoglycaemia?
Endocrine
What type of communication is shown in response to hyperglycemia? and why
Paracrine and Endocrine - when blood glucose levels are too high, insulin is released which inhibits the secretion of glucagon from the alpha islet cells
Endocrine effects on the liver ie reduced glycogenolysis
What is meant by paracrine communication?
Hormone acts on an ADJACENT cell
How does the pancreas show paracrine communication?
Insulin produced by the Beta cells acts on the Alpha cells of the islet of langerhans to inhibit glucagon production
Describe how nitric oxide acts in a paracrine manner.
Nitric Oxide produced by the endothelium in blood vessels, acts on the smooth muscle to vasodilate the vessels
How do osteoclasts act in a paracrine manner?
Osteoclast activating factors produced by adjacent osteoblasts
What is meant by membrane attached protein comunication?
Plasma membrane proteins on adjacent cells interacting
Describe an immunological example of membrane-attached protein communication. (involving APCs)
1) Blood borne virus (e.g. hepatitis C) is detected within blood stream by antigen presenting cell (APC)
2) The antigen presenting cell (APC) digests the pathogen –> expresses major histo-compatibility (MHC) class II molecules on surface
3) Circulating T-lymphocytes engages with MHC molecule through T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction
How does HIV glycoproteins and bacterial cell wall components have “signalling between membrane attached proteins”?
→ HIV GP120 glycoprotein –> CD4 receptors on T-lymphocytes
→ Bacterial cell wall components –> toll-like receptors on haematopoietic cells
What is meant by autocrine communication?
Signalling molecules acts on same cell
How do T cells display autocrine forms of communication?
1) Activated TCR will initiate a cascade of reactions within T-cell
4) Activated T cell expresses interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor on surface
3) Activated T-lymphocyte also secretes IL-2 which…
- Binds to IL-2 receptor on same cell
- Binds to IL-2 receptor on adjacent activated T-cell
- Which mediates cytokine release
How does acetylcholine and growth factors act in an autocrine manner?
Acetylcholine –> presynaptic M2- muscarinic receptors
Growth factors (e.g. TGFbeta) from tumour cells (mitogenesis)
What are the overall types of signalling?
Endocrine: blood vessels-> distant target cell
Paracrine: hormone acts on adjacent cell
Membrane attached proteins: plasma membrane proteins on adjacent cells interacting
Autocrine: signalling molecule acts on same cell
Describe how neurotransmission occurs?
1) Propagation of the action potentials (AP)
- Action potentials are propagated by VGSCs (voltage gated sodium ion channels) opening
- Na+ influx –> membrane depolarisation –> AP ‘moves along’ neurone
- Voltage gated potassium ion channels opening –> K+ influx –> repolarisation
2) Neurotransmitter (NT) releases from vesicles
- Action potential opens voltage-gated Ca2+ channels at presynaptic terminal
- Ca2+ influx –> vesicle exocytosis
3) Activation of postsynaptic receptors
- Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on post-synaptic membrane
- Receptors modulate post-synaptic activity
4) Activation of postsynaptic receptors
- The signal can be transmitted by a variety of different types of receptor…
What are the four distinct categories of receptors which exist?
1) Ionotropic receptor
- Ligand binding –> opens ion permeable pore traversing the membrane
2) G protein coupled receptor
- Ligand binding –> activates intracellular G-protein
3) Enzyme-linked receptor
- Ligand binding –> receptor clustering –> activates internal enzymes
4) Intracellular receptor
A membrane permeable ligand binds to receptor inside cell