Cellular Communication Flashcards
Types of intercellular communication by chemicals
Endocrine
Paracrine
Autocrine
Signaling molecule is secreted by a cell and transported through the circulation where it acts on a distant target cell
Endocrine cell signaling
Chemical signaling molecule is released by one cell and acts locally to regulate the behavior of a neighboring cell
Paracrine cell signaling
A cell responds to a signaling molecule that it also produced
Autocrine cell signaling
Any chemical that binds to a receptor is a ____
Ligand
What is another name for ligand?
First messenger
What results from signal recognition and transduction of an extracellular message ?
Second messenger or
Catalytic cascade
Four types of receptor-based signal transducers
- Transmembrane G protein couple receptors
- Transmembrane ligand-gated ion channels
- Transmembrane enzyme-linked receptors
- Soluble intracellular (nuclear) receptors
What are the four categories of small, hydrophilic chemical messengers?
Amino acids
Biogenic amines
Choline esters
Idothyronines
Four examples of amino acid chemical messengers
Glycine
Glutamate
GABA
Aspartate
Five examples of biogenic amine chemical messengers
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine
Serotonin (5-HT)
Histamine
Example of a choline ester
Acetylcholine
Two idothyronines
Thyroxine (T4)
Triiodothyronine (T3)
What chemical messengers are derived from tyrosine?
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine
Idothyronines (T4 and T3)
What are some general features of small, hydrophilic chemical messengers?
Polar molecules that are ionized at physiologic pH
Need cell-surface receptors to cross plasma membranes
Stored in vesicles in the cells that synthesized them
Typically released by exocytosis (excluding T3 and T4)
Three general categories of lipophilic chemical messengers
Steroids
Eicosanoids
Other
Examples of endogenous steroids
Aldosterone
Cortisol
Testosterone
Progesterone
Estrogens
Examples of eicosanoids
Prostaglandins
Leukotrienes
Thromboxanes
Two miscellaneous lipophilic chemical messengers
Vitamin D3
Retinoids
What are general characteristics of peptide and protein chemical messengers?
Usually polar (hydrophilic)
Do not readily cross plasma membranes = usually bind to cell surface
Synthesized as precursor molecules
Stored in vesicles in the cells that synthesized them
Circulate in the blood stream as unbound molecules
What is the sequence of signal transduction through G protein-coupled receptors?
First messenger (ligand) > GPCR > Effector > Second messenger > Cellular response
What are the three components of signal transduction through GPCRs?
- A plasma membrane receptor with seven transmembrane helical segments
- A guanosine nucleotide- binding protein activates the effector enzyme or pathway
- An effector (usually an enzyme) in or associated with the plasma membrane that generates an intracellular second messenger
What are the heterotrimeric G protein families?
Gs
Gi
Gq
G12, 13
Enzyme that produces cyclic adenosine monophosphate
Adenylyl cylase
Enzyme that produces inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylgycerol (DAG)
Phospholipase C
Enzyme that produces eicosanoids
Phospholipase A2
Intercellular junction that helps the nervous system communicate
Synapse
Two types of synapses
Chemical
Electrical
Which type of synapse is most prevalent?
Chemical
Signals flow directly from one cell to another in a bi-directional fashion
Electrical synapses
Signal travels in one direction from the presynaptic membrane to the postsynaptic membrane across a synaptic cleft
Chemical synapses
Two types of receptors at chemical synapses
Ion channels (ionotropic)
Heterotrimeric G proteins (metabotropic)
Three signals that open pores in gated ion channels
Membrane voltage (electrical)
Chemicals (ligands)
Pressure (mechanical)
Primary neurotransmitter of peripheral efferent neural pathways
Acetylcholine
Where does ach synthesis take place?
Presynaptic nerve terminal
Type of Ach receptor that is ionotropic
Nicotinic
Type of Ach receptor that is metabotropic
Muscarinic
Ach substrates
Acetyl-CoA
Choline
Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
Glutamate
Responses to glutamate
Motor neuron activation
Pain pathway transmission
Elevated pain sensation (hyperalgesia)
Memory formation
Cerebral neurotoxicity
Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABA
Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord and lower brainstem
Glycine
Where is glutamate synthesized?
In the brain (it cannot cross BBB)
What alpha G protein subunit results in the increased production of cAMP from adenylyl cyclase?
Gs
What G protein alpha subunit stimulation results in decreased production of cAMP from adenylyl cyclase?
Gi
What enzyme produces cAMP?
Adenylyl cyclase
What enzyme produces inositol triphosphate?
Phospholipase C (PLC)
What enzyme produces diacylglycerol?
Phospholipase C
What enzyme produces eicosanoids?
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2)
What is the precursor for cAMP?
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
What is the precursor for DAG and IP3?
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)
What G protein and substance are responsible for DAG and IP3 production?
Gq
Ca++
What second messenger binds to Ca++ channels on the endoplasmic reticulum resulting in Ca++ release from ER into the cytoplasm?
IP3
What second messenger acts as a docking site for and activator of protein kinase C (PKC)?
DAG
What second messengers leave the cell and bind to GPCR on the surface of target cells?
Eicosanoids
What enzyme liberates arachidonic acid from the cell membrane?
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2)
What is the precursor for prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and CYP450 monooxygenases?
Arachidonic acid
What is the precursor for endocannabinoids?
Arachidonic acid