Cell Signaling Flashcards
Signaling is important for:
- normal cell growth
- division and differentiation
- homeostasis
Steps in cell signaling
- Signaling cell secretes a signaling molecule (which can be a lipid/water ligand) in response to a stimulus.
- Ligand transported to a target cell, where it binds to a receptor
- [Ligand-receptor complex] can activate or inhibit cellular pathways.
a. Effectors alter the activity of components downstream and create 2nd messengers that will elicit a cellular response.
How are signals terminated?
Signals are terminated by the removal of the signaling molecule and/or receptor
The effector can be:
- Metabolic enzyme
- Gene regulatory protein
- Cytoskeleton protein
Endocrine signaling
A signaling molecule (hormones) freely diffuse into the blood to travel long distances to their target.
What is the life of endocrine signals?
Short term: the half life is in minutes
Example of endocrine signaling
Epinephrine is released by the medulla into the blood to bind to heart muscles.
Paracrine signaling
signal diffuses to a receptor of a target cell of a different cell type
Paracrine signaling is _____ and ____-lived
Paracrine signaling is LOCAL and SHORT-lived
Example of paracrine signaling
Testosterone is made in Leydig cells and act on neighboring Sertoli cells
Autocrine signaling
Signal will bind to a receptor on the same cell or the same type of cell
Example of autocrine signaling
Interleukin-2 and growth factors use this type of signaling to promote their replication in minutes.
Direct/juxtacrine signaling
Direct/juxtacrine signaling involves direct contact. The signal binds signaling cell, which will then bind to a receptor on the target cell
Example of direct/juxtacrine signaling
HB-EGF (heparin binding-epidermal growth factor)
What are the 2 types of signaling molecules
- Water soluble (hydrophillic)
2. Lipid soluble (hydrophibic)
What does the type of signal molecule indicate?
it tells us where the receptors are present
How does hydrophilic signaling work?
- A hydrophilic molecule will bind to a receptor on the cell membrane because it cannot pass through.
- Activates a second messenger inside of the cell
- Triggers a downstream cellular response
What are receptors that are involved in hydrophilic signaling?
- GCPRs
2. Tyrosine kinases
Ex. of hydrophilic signals
- Epinephrine
- insulin
- glucagon
How does lipophilic signaling work?
- Lipophilic signal passes the membrane and binds to receptor in the cytoplasm or nucleus.
- The [receptor+molecule] will then act as a transcription factor and affect gene expression.
Examples of lipophilic signals
- steroids
- thyroid hormone
- retinoids
What happens when a lipophilic molecule binds to a cytoplasmic receptor?
The cytoplasmic receptor exists in an inactive complex with HSP 90.
- Ligand binds, HSP 90 goes away.
- [Hormone+receptor] complex will then move to nucleus where it binds to a DNA sequence called the HRE (hormone response element) and affects gene expression.
What is the DNA sequence called that the hormone+receptor complex of lipophilic molecules bind?
HRE
Hormone response element (HRE)
What is the life of lipophilic signals?
They have a long half life because they affect transcription
What are the three types of receptors?
- Ligand gated ion channels
- GCPRs
- RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases)
Which type of enzyme is an enzyme-coupled receptor?
RTKs
Receptor tyrosine kinases
Structure of GCPRs
GCPRs have
1. 7 transmembrane proteins (7 alpha helices)
- Extracellular domain (ECD) that binds to the signal
- Intracellular domain (ICD) that binds to the G-protein
Trimeric g-protein components
There are three components to the G-protein: alpha, beta, gamma
What does an inactivated G-protein look like?
Inactivated G-protein has a GDP bound to the alpha subunit, which is bound to beta and gamma subunit