Topic 5 - Cell Signalling Flashcards
What are the components of a the general cellular communication pathways
- extracellular signal molecule (remains outside the cell)
- bound receptor
- intracellular signalling proteins (cascade activated)
- effector proteins
What are three outcomes from the effector proteins
- altered metabolism
- altered gene expression
- altered shape or movement of cell
What are GAP junctions?
- inter membrane narrow water filled channels directly connecting adjacent cells
- symmetrically exchange inorganic ions, small water soluble molecules
- no large proteins can be exchanged
What is the structure of GAP junctions>
- 6 connexins (homomeric or heteromeric)
- 2 sets connect a cell with another cell
Signal molecules can be?
- proteins
- peptides
- amino acids
- nucleotides
- steroids
- retinoids
- fatty acid derivatives
- gases
These signal molecules can be released into extracellular space by… (3)
- Exocytosis
- Diffusion
- attached to a protein on a extracellular surface
How do cells respond to signal molecules?
- selective reaction since signal always work in combination
- each cell type has a set of receptors that respond to a combination of signal
What is the advantage of having cell signal combinations?
- allows for variety and desired effects
What are the two types of receptors?
- cell-surface receptors
- intracellular receptors in two classes
1) nuclear receptor family
2) primary & secondary transcriptional response
How do you ensure a cell responds specifically?
- proper receptor
- proper combination of signal
- has correct internal response proteins
What are the main features of an inactive nuclear receptor? (3 domains)
- inhibitory protein bound to receptor
- exposed ligand binding domain
- DNA binding domain
- transcription activating domains
How is a nuclear receptor activated to what effect?
- ligand binds to the ligand binding domain
- the inhibitory protein falls off and is replaced by a coactivator protein binding over the ligand binding domain & the transcription-activating domain
- the DNA binding domain binds to the receptor binding element on DNA
- transcription of target DNA occurs
what are orphan nuclear receptors?
- we are unaware of the ligand that binds the receptor
What are signal transducers
- protein receptors on the extracellular surface convert the extracellular ligand binding into intracellular signals - this has a direct effect on cell behavior
What are 3 examples of cell surface receptors?
- GPCR coupled to G proteins
- Ion Channel Coupled Receptors (ex neurotransmitters and their change in [ ])
- Enzyme coupled Receptor
Quickly explain Enzyme coupled receptors?
- receptor binds a signal outside
- receptor has a catalytic domain activated by this signal
- an enzyme associates on the intracellular side with further transduction occurring on the inside of the cell
What are the 4 types of intercellular signalling?
- Contact dependent
- Paracrine
- Endocrine
- Synaptic
What is unique about Contact-Dependent Signalling?
- signal is attached to an external signal surface (plasma membrane)
- on an opposite cell there is a receptor that binds the fixed signal
What are 4 key points about Autocrine Signalling
- there should be rapid uptake by the target cell
- the signal should be destroyed by the ECM
- Signal should be blocked by the ECM
- antagonists will try to block this activity
Explain what is key about Synaptic Signalling?
- it is extremely fast
- release of high local [ ] of neurotransmitter
- ex. acetylcholine
How does Endocrine Signalling work?
- through slow diffusion of the signal
- ex. release of hormones throughout the body
What are two pathways a cell have to reacting to a signal?
- FAST pathway: where there is a direct alteration to the function of the current protein in a cell (ex. phosphorylation - activation of GTPases) - directly changing cellular behavior
- SLOW pathway: where the signal activates gene expression of new proteins where this synthesis of new proteins lead to altered cell behavior
What are the two responses in the SLOW reaction pathway?
1) Primary response where the signal activates gene expression of a ex. Transcription Factor
2) Secondary response where the TF changes gene expression of an effector protein now
How do different cells have different responses to the SAME signal
ex. acetylcholine in skeletal muscle (contraction), heart pacemaker cells (decreased firing rate) and salivary glands (secretion)
1. each cell has different receptors
2. these different receptors are linked to different intracellular signalling proteins
3. these different intracellular signaing proteins activating different effector proteins
4. these different receptors activating different intracellular signalling proteins activating different effector proteins will activate different genes
Expand on the same signal different responses of different cells point
Each cell may have different concentrations of inhibitors and inducers during development which will alter the cells ability to respond to the signal
What are small intracellular mediators/second messengers
- will be generated in large numbers after receptor activation (ex. cAMP)
- diffuse away from the source, spreading the signal
What are large intracellular signalling proteins?
- these generate small intracellular meadiators (G protein eventually activating cAMP)
- they activate the next signalling/effector protein
What are different types of signalling pathways in a hypothetical pathway?
- primary transduction @ the membrane
- signal is relayed
- signal is tranduced and amplified
- integration
- spread
- anchor
- modulate
- effector protein activation
- Gene transcription
What are two ways molecular switches work?
- phosphorylation
- GTP-binding
How does phosphorylation activate or inactivate molecular switches
- an inactive signal is phosphorylated by ATP and this turned ON and active
- an active signal has a phosphate removed from ATP and this turned OFF the protein
How does GTP-binding affect molecular switches?
- GTP binding activates the signal, while GTP hydrolysis removes a phosphate of GTP to GDP and it is inactive
- these may include heterotrimeric or monomeric GTP binding proteins