cell signaling Flashcards
signaling cell
cell that releases signal molecules that allow communication with another cell
ligand
a molecule that binds to a receptor
receptor
protein in or on a target cell that binds to ligands, resulting in a response
hydrophobic
molecules that do not interact well with water; nonpolar molecules
hydrophilic
molecules that interact well with water, such as ions and polar molecules
target cell
cell that has a receptor for a signal or ligand from a signaling cell
intracellular receptor
receptor protein that is located in the cytosol of a cell and binds to ligands that pass through the plasma membrane
cell-surface receptor
cell-surface protein that transmits a signal from the exterior of the cell to the interior, even though the ligand does not enter the cell
juxtacrine signaling
signaling between two cells that are in direct contact with one another
paracrine signaling
signaling between nearby cells that is delivered by ligands traveling in the liquid medium in the space between the cells
autocrine signaling
signaling that is sent and received by the same and/or similar nearby cells
neurotransmitter
chemical ligand that carries a signal from a neuron to its target cell
endocrine signal
long-distance signal that is delivered by ligands (hormones) traveling through an organism’s circulatory system from the signaling cell to the target cell
hormone
a signaling molecule that regulates physiology, behavior, or development
signal transduction
propagation of the signal through the cytoplasm (and sometimes also the nucleus) of the cell
phosphorylation
addition of a phosphate group
kinase
enzyme that phosphorylates a molecule
phosphatase
enzyme that removes the phosphate group from a molecule that has been previously phosphorylated
second messenger
small, non-protein molecule that propagates a signal wihtin the cell after activation of a receptor causes its release
growth factor
ligand that binds to cell-surface receptors and stimulates cell growth
apoptosis
programmed cell death
