Different mechanisms of cell to cell communication

Question 1

What are the 5 types of cell to cell communication?

Answer 1

• contact dependent
• paracrine
• autocrine
• synaptic
• endocrine

Question 2

Describe contact dependent communication

Answer 2

the cells are stuck to each other and there is a membrane bound signal molecule to allow interaction on the cell surface

Question 3

Give an example of a contact dependent cell to cell communication

Answer 3

gap junctions (electrical synapses affecting their neighbour)

Question 4

Describe paracrine cell to cell communication

Answer 4

the signalling cell secretes hormones into the local environment to have an effect on target cells in the local environment

Question 5

Describe autocrine communication

Answer 5

the signalling cell secretes a local hormone which targets a receptor in the signalling cell so that this call can self regulate its own activity

Question 6

Describe synaptic communication

Answer 6

a neurotransmitter is released from the axon terminal of a neuron into the synaptic cleft to act on receptors on the post-synaptic cell

Question 7

Describe endocrine communication

Answer 7

an endocrine cell releases a hormone into the bloodstream and it is transported to a distant target cell to have an effect on the receptor

Question 8

An endocrine cell secretes a hormone which circulates in the blood. What are four potential fates for this secreted hormone?

Answer 8

1. it could be excreted into the urine or faeces
2. it could be inactivated by metabolism
3. it could be activated by metabolism (if it is inactive when secreted)
4. it could bind to a receptor and produce a cellular response