Lecture 19 Flashcards
Juxtacrine signalling is an example of a short-range signalling mechanism. Outline how this signalling mechanism acts
In juxtacrine signalling, two cells are in direct contact and the ligand is a membrane-bound signal molecule (transmembrane protein)
List some of the downstream effects of signalling mechanisms on the cell
Survival, death(apoptosis), migration, differentiation, division
What is often the result of phosphorylation of receptors once they become activated
Phosphorylation of receptors often creates recognition (docking) sites for downstream protein binding
Which kind of short-range signalling involves ligand secretion from the signalling cell which acts as a local mediator on neighbouring cells, diffusing only a few cell diameters away
Paracrine
Where in the body is autocrine signalling often used
Used a lot in the immune system
In addition to paracrine, autocrine and juxtacrine signalling, there is another type of short range cell signalling. What is this signalling mechanism and how does it act
Short range signalling can also occur through gap junctions. Gap junctions act to physically connect cells together and allows them to share small molecules and ions. This acts to metabolically and electrically couple cells together and allows the transfer of species such as cAMP and Ca2+ between cells.
Cells of different types can respond to the same signal quite differently. Give an example of this
The response of different cells to acetylcholine can vary in different tissues. In the heart, release of acetylcholine causes the relaxation of cardiac muscle whereas in skeletal muscle it causes contraction. Similarly, in glandular tissue, acetylcholine release causes secretion of vesicles
How many transmembrane domains are indicative of GPCRs
7 transmembrane domains
What is meant by the term signal transduction
The process by which extracellular signalling molecules cause changes in target cells
Signalling pathways usually involve an extracellular signalling molecule and a receptor protein that leads to the activation of intracellular signalling. Give examples of the different downstream targets of intracellular signalling
Metabolic enzymes, gene regulatory proteins and cytoskeletal protein elements
Integration steps often occur in intracellular signalling where different pathways can affect the same components. In contrast, spreading of the signal is never seen, T or F
F – spreading is also seen
What is the other name given to ligand-gated ion channels
Inotropic receptors
What is meant by primary transduction
Primary transduction is the process the converts the signal from the extracellular signalling molecule to an intracellular signal
Intracellular amplification of signals is a common feature of signal transduction, T or F
T
What are the two main types of GTP binding proteins involved in intracellular signalling
Guanine Exchange Factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs)
What kind of proteins are often the downstream targets of intracellular receptors
Transcription factors
What type of signalling molecules do cell surface receptors often interact with
Hydrophilic ligands
What is the role of scaffold proteins in intracellular signalling
Scaffold proteins play an important role in anchoring numerous components in place to respond to the activated receptors. By holding components in place, scaffold proteins effectively increase the effective concentration
Describe what is meant by autocrine signalling
Autocrine signalling involves local groups of neighbouring cells with both produce the receptor and the ligand for a particular pathway. The secreted factor activates its own receptor on the same cell and neighbouring cells often as part of a positive feedback loop.
Describe the general structure and activation of enzyme-coupled receptors
Enzyme coupled receptors are transmembrane proteins that interact with ligands. This interaction then activates the intracellular enzyme domain or recruits an intracellular enzyme leading to signal transduction
What kind of signalling molecules do intracellular receptors interact with
Hydrophobic/lipophilic signalling molecules
Give an overview of signalling from GPCRs
The GPCR will interact with a ligand that allows binding of the receptor to a G-protein forming a complex which can then interact with enzymes