Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Cell Biology and Signalling > Intracellular Signalling > Flashcards

Intracellular Signalling Flashcards

1
Q

What do individual cells part of a complex community of interacting tissue respond to?

A

wide array of extracellular signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are 7 signals cells can receive and function?

A
  1. Divide - replace cells and for growth
  2. Growth - grow without div e.g. muscles grow when exercise
  3. Differentiation
  4. Movement e.g. migration of immune cells into infected tissue
  5. Cell Death e.g. once immune cells have fought infection, they die
  6. Store/mobilise energy – liver, muscles and fat
  7. Secrete and release - enz
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Name 4 types of signal mol

A
  1. Hormones and Growth Factors
  2. Metabolic Regulators
  3. Neurotransmitters
  4. Inflammatory Mediators
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is function of hormones and growth factors and e.g.s?

A
  • hormones– stim cell div + growth (development, wound healing)
  • e.g. Oestradiol, Testosterone, Growth Hormone,
  • growth factors e.g. Epidermal Growth Factor – wound – cells grow + div on skin to repair wound
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is function of metabolic regulators and e.g.s?

A
  • Metabolic Regulators e.g. – Insulin – released in response to glucose – can store energy from meal,
  • e.g. Adrenaline – get glucose rapidly in stress situation to respond to stress,
  • e.g. Glucagon – releases energy from glucose when u haven’t eaten/starving
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is function of neurotransmitters and e.g.s?

A

– signals between neurones in brain, neurones and muscles

– Acetylcholine, Glutamate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is function of inflammatory mediators and e.g.s?

A

– e.g. Prostaglandins - made at sites of tissue damage/infection - control processes e.g. inflammation, blood flow, formation of blood clots + induction of labour,
- e.g. Cytokines – allow activation of immune cells to fight infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the 4 diff methods for signal action?

A
  1. Endocrine
  2. Paracrine
  3. Neuronal
  4. Contact-dependent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does endocrine signalling action occur?

A
  • endo cell secretes hormone into bloodstream
  • travels in blood screen to target cell with receptor
  • hormone binds to receptor - response
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does paracrine signalling action occur and e.g.?

A
  • signalling cell releases local mediator to target cells in immediate env
  • binds to receptors of local cells surrounding local signal - response
  • e.g. infection in lung send signals to immune cells and fight it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How does neuronal signalling action occur?

A
  • neurotransmitter released from axon terminal
  • diffuses across gap - binds to receptors on target cell
  • have synapse
  • signalling with 1 cell in small, localised region
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does contact-dependent signalling action occur and e.g.?

A
  • mem-bound signal mol on signalling cell
  • binds to receptor on target cell
  • cells acc in contact
  • e.g. immune responses – cell signal locally to B/T cell to proliferate and respond to infection
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does binding of signal to a receptor generate?

A

a biological response within target cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are 2 biological responses within target cell from signal binding?

A
  • altered protein syn

- altered protein function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens when signal binds to target cell and get altered protein syn and e.g?

A
  • DNA transcribed into RNA
  • altered protein syn
  • altered cytoplasmic machinery
  • altered cell behaviour
  • slow (mins to hrs)
  • e.g. make more insulin to replace insulin that’s secreted – RNA for insulin gene made and translated to make insulin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happens when signal binds to target cell and get altered protein function and e.g?

A
  • intracellular signalling pathway
  • leads to altered protein function
  • altered cytoplasmic machinery
  • altered cell behaviour
  • fast (
17
Q

What are 2 factors that make receptors bind to signals and why?

A
  • high selectivity
  • high affinity
    – to make sure only right signal acts on right cell e.g. just one insulin receptor/cell that can bind to insulin
18
Q

How can signal be stopped and e.g?

A
  • Receptors have to be turned off (time delay)

- e.g. once glucose levels go back down, need to turn off insulin secretion

19
Q

What is gen structure of cell surface receptors?

A
  • receptor region
  • transmem region
  • intracellular region
  • N-terminus outside and C-terminus inside cell
20
Q

Why does hydrophilic signal mol have to bind to cell surface receptor?

A
  • Can’t cross mem as its hydrophobic so cells have to bind to receptor
21
Q

How do intracellular receptors work?

A
  • small hydrophobic signal mol - e.g. Steroid hormones - Oestradiol, Testosterone can pass directly through mem
  • go through mem and bind to receptors inside - stim gene transcription in nucleus
  • Long term responses
22
Q

How are small hydrophobic signal mol transported around body?

A

Liquid outside and inside cells hydrophilic – need to be carried around in bloodstream by proteins which are hydrophilic

23
Q

What are 3 major classes of mem receptor?

A
  1. Ion Channels
  2. Enzymatic
  3. G-protein -coupled receptors (GPCR)
24
Q

How do ion channels work and e.g?

A
  • Closed then signal e.g. mem pot binds to receptor – changes its conformation - open it
  • flow of ions across membrane changes membrane potential
  • e.g. Nicotinic acetycholine receptor – binds to Ach – found on muscles and neurones
25
Q

How is type of enzymatic receptor and e.g?

A
  • protein kinases

e. g. EGF receptor (epidermal growth factor)

26
Q

How do G-protein coupled receptors work and e.g?

A

– pass on signal to enz but not enz themselves just activate them

  • G protein activates enzyme or ion channel
    e. g. Adrenaline receptor
27
Q

How does protein kinase work?

A
  • inactive protein (switched off) and signal put in
  • ATP —> ADP + Pi - Use ATP to put phosphate group onto proteins
  • Take 3rd phos and put it on protein
  • signalling by phos
28
Q

What are e.g.s of ion channels?

A
  • Na+, K+, Ca2+ – width only allows 1 type of ion to go through.
  • Na+ smallest
29
Q

How does phos

A

Phos –ve charged ion – produces –ve charged region so might change charge on that area of protein – activate/inactive protein

Cell Biology and Signalling (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions