Cell signalling and receptors Flashcards
What are the types of signals that can be produced?
- Mechanical
- Biochemical
For a biochemical signal, what is required?
A ligand and a receptor
What is a signal ligand?
a small molecule that forms a complex with a macromolecule typically a receptor protein that results in a conformational change in the receptor that then generates a signal
Tell me 3 different forms of signal
- Contact- dependent signals
- Cell-matrix signals
- soluble signals; Autocrine, Paracrine, Endocrine
Tell me about Contact- dependent signals (juxtacrine)
- require interaction between membrane molecules on two cells
- cells must be touching
- signals are transmitted through cell membranes via protein or lipid componenets integral to the membrane of the emitting cells
Tell me about Cell-matrix signals
Provide some examples of them
- insoluble signalling molecules
examples;
a. Mesenchymal cells (neurons, muscle cells, fibroblast) are surrounded by a matrix
b. Chondrocyte cell surrounded by matrix (cartilage)
c. Cell-matrix interactions can be organised at focal contacts
Where is an epithelial cells matrix found?
Only on one side
Tell me about Autocrine signals
Provide some examples
They are secreted and affect the target cell itself via its own receptors
Examples;
1. Interleukin-1; a cytokine released by macrophages. effects neighbouring cells and the secreting cell “activating them”
2. Interleukin-2; is released by T lymphocytes on meeting an antigen and causes them to proliferate
Tell me about intracrine signals
provide an example
They are produced by and stay within target cells (a version of autocrine signalling)
Examples
- adipose tissue
- some steroid hormones have their receptors in the cell so can act as intracrine (and paracrine and endocrine signals)
Tell me about Paracrine signals
Provide some examples
These signals target cells in the vicinity of the emitting cell
They are localised signals
Examples
- Immune cells; neurotransmitters at synapses
Tell me some local mediators of paracrine signals which are released into the interstitual fluid
- Histamine
- TGFß
- Growth factors
- cytokines
Are chemical synapses- neuronal signals paracrine signals?
yes
Tell me about Endocrine signals
Provide an examples
They target distant cells by producing hormones that travel through the circulation to reach all parts of the body
Examples
- adrenalin
- thyroid stimulating hormone
Tell me some hormones and their concentration at low concentration in the blood/interstitual fluid
Thyroxine 0.09-20 pg/ml
Oestrodiol 20-400 pg/ml
Prolactin 3-15 ng/ml
What is 1pg in grams…
1 Pg = … g
1 pg= 1x10-12 g
Tell me about the affinity of hormone receptor binding
Has a far greater affinity (low Kd) compared to others
What are hormone receptors part of?
amplification cascades
Tell me some chemical classification of external messengers and examples for each
Gases: NO, CO, H2S, CO2.
Nucleic Acids: ATP, ADP and adenosine.
Fatty acid derivatives: Eicosanoid e.g. prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, PAFs.
Cholesterol derivatives: steroids
Amino acids and derivatives: glycine, glutamate, thyroid hormones, catecholamines- e.g. adrenaline
Peptides: e.g. TRH
Proteins: e.g. Insulin
What are gases produced by ?
specific enzymatic pathways
Tell me about the solubility of gases and what this allows them to do/ not to do
They are highly soluble in water and lipids
Can cross plasma membrane
can’t be stored
Are gases only made when they are needed ?
yes
What type of local effects do gases produce?
Paracrine and autocrine effects
What type of responses do they produce?
Generally, cause vasodilation and may have immunological effects
Tell me what nucleic acids function as paracrine signalling molecules
The purinergic nucleotides ATP/ADP and their nucleoside adenosine
What do nucleic acids specifically have and what is this associated with?
Have specific cell surface receptors
Have G proten associated with them
What happens with nucleic acids during cellular stress (e.g. ischemia /reperfusion or inflammation) ?
multiple cell types release ATP into the extracellular space
What type of effects do nucleic acids have?
Vasodilation, neural effects (in development), innate immune changes e.g. inflammatory cytokine release, fever
As the fatty acid derivatives are polar, what does this mean for their transport?
They don’t rapidly cross the cell membrane so have receptors
Tell me some examples of polar fatty acid derivatives
PAFs and Eicosanoids e.g. prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes
What type of signals do fatty acid derivatives produce?
How are they produced?
Paracrine signals
Produced through modification and release of lipids in the plasma membrane
Eicosanoids – arachidonic acid
Platelet activating factor-phosphorylcholines
Tell me some roles of fatty acid derivatives
Regulate immune responses, inflammation (vascular permeability), pain reactions, vasoconstriction/ dilation and clotting
Cholesterol derivatives are hormones that are transported by the circulatory system to target distant organs.
Give some examples of these hormones
Sex (gonadal/ placental) steroids: Oestrogens, Progesterone’s, Testosterone.
Adrenal steroids: Mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
Vitamin D: (can’t make this, but its structure is that of a steroid so classed as this)
Are cholesterol derivatives produced on demand ?
yes
Cholesterol aren’t very water soluble so how are they transported?
May have a carrier in the plasma
Where are cholesterol derivatives receptors found and why?
Main receptors are inside the cell and not at the membrane as they are lipid soluble molecules so readily cross the membrane
What are amino acid derivative produced by ?
exocytosis
Are amino acid derivative relativelt lipid soluble?
no, they are lipid insoluble
Tell me some amino acid, paracine, neurotransmitters and whether they are excitatory or inhibitory
Glutamate, Aspartate: excitatory
Glycine: inhibitory
Amino acid derivative are active Biogenic amines, how are they produced?
by the decarboxylation of amino acids
Give 3 examples of amino acid derivatives?
- Histamine
- GABA
- Serotonin
Tell me what amino acid Histamine is derived from and its Histamines role?
Derived from Histidine (paracrine)
role: immune responses, vasodilation, acid secretion in GI tract, neurotransmitter
Tell me what GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is derived from and GABA’s role ?
Derived from; glutamate (paracrine)
role; inhibitory neurotransmitter
Tell me what serotonin is derived from, and serotonins role?
dervided from; tryptophan
role; neurotransmitter, vasodilation
When are Catecholamines produced and give 3 examples and their roles?
produced after tyrosine decarboxylation
Examples and their roles;
- Dopamine; Neurotransmitter
- Noradrenaline; Neurotransmitter
- Adrenaline; Hormones and neurotransmitter
Tell me another tyrosine modification
conjugated/ iodinated hormones
When decarboxylating an amino acid, what is the enzyme?
Histidine Decarboxylate
(The name of what enzyme was decarboxylated)
What is the largest class of signalling molecules?
Peptides and proteins
What is the range in sizes of peptides and proteins?
from 3 AA (e.g. TRH= Glu-His-Pro-(N) to growth hormone e.g. GH~ 200 AA
Peptides and proteins are not soluble in lipids, what term is used to describe this?
Lipophobic
Tell me 3 types of signal molecules?
- Lipophilic (hydrophobic) molecules
- Hydrophilic molecules
- Tyroid hormones
Tell me about Lipophilic (hydrophobic) molecules and give some examples
like to be in lipid not aq environment
e.g. Steroids (cortisol) and Gases (NO).
Can enter the cells so the receptors can be anywhere, often within the cytosol. (sometimes found in nucleus)
Tell me about hydrophilic molecules and give some examples
e.g. Amines (serotonin), Amino Acids (Glycine), Peptides (ACTH) and Proteins (Insulin).
Can’t cross the plasma membrane so receptors at the cell surface.
Tell me about thyroid hormone
- are Hydrophobic
- have a carrier at the cell surface to bring the ligand into the cell
- have receptors in the cytoplasm
- An amino acid derivative (produced from tyrosine)
- An exception
Compare intracellular signal receptors and cell membrane receptors
Define signal transduction?
How chemical or physical signals are transmitter through a cell as a series of molecular events
How are chnages elicited in signal transduction and what does this cause?
The changes elicited by ligand binding to a receptor which gives rise to a signalling cascase, a chnage of biochemical events- a signalling pathway
signalling pathways may interact with one another to form networks, which allow coordinated cellular responses. Give some responses?
- changes in the transcription or translation of genes.
- Don’t act in isolation
- post-translational and conformational changes in proteins.
- changes in protein location.
- changes in ion concentration.
- alter cell growth
- proliferation
- metabolism
- movement
- secretion
What are First messengers?
signalling molecules (hormones/ paracrine/ autocrine agents) that reach the cell from the extracellular fluid and bind to their specific receptors.
What are second messengers?
substances that relays message from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm to trigger a response.
What do cell surface receptors need?
second messengers
Examples of second messengers…
Give 3 examples of lipophilic signalling?
- NO (nitric oxide)
- Steroids
- Tyroxine
Give examples of plasma membrane receptors for hydrophilic signalling?
- Ligand-gated ion channels (e.g. nicotinic acetylcholine receptor)
- G-protein-linked receptors (β-adrenergic receptor)
- Enzyme-linked receptors (growth factor receptors)