Intracellular receptors Flashcards
1
Q
What are intracellular receptors and how do they differ from previously mentioned receptors?
A
They are small hydrophobic proteins located within the cell that are involved in signal transduction.
2
Q
What do hydrophobic hormones usually mediate?
A
Long-term changes because they have a slow turnover time.
3
Q
Explain the pathway leading to erection.
A
- Acetylcholine binds to GPCR
- Activation of phospholipase C which leads to activation of the phosphoinositide pathway
- Activated calmudolin binds and activates NO synthetase, which makes NO gas
- NO gas is unstable and diffuses into the smooth muscle cells where it binds to the NO receptor, which makes cGMP
- cGMP binds to protein kinase G, leading to the relaxation of the muscle cell, allowing for blood flow
- Termination of the response by cGMP phosphodiesterase which cleaves cGMP into GMP
