Unit 1 KA 4&5 Flashcards
Multicellular organisms signal between cells using what?
extracellular signalling molecules
Give three examples of extracellular signalling molecules
steroid hormones, peptide hormones and neurotransmitters.
receptor molecules of target cells are…
proteins with a binding site for a specific signal molecule
What does binding do?
Changes the receptor’s conformation which initiates a response in the cell.
Different cell types produce…
specific signals that can only be detected and responded to by cells with the specific receptor.
Why may signal molecules have different effects on different target cells?
differences in the intracellular signalling molecules and the pathways that are involved.
In multicellular organisms, certain cells may show a ________ response to an extracellular signal
tissue specific response
T or F - Hydrophillic signalling molecules bind to intracellular receptors and diffuse directly through phospholipid membranes
False - hydrophobic signalling molecules.
What are the receptors for hydrophobic signalling molecules called?
transcription factors
What is a transcription factor?
A protein that when bound to DNA can either stimulate or inhibit initiation of transcription.
True or False - The steroid hormones estrogen and testosterone are examples of hydrophobic signalling molecules
True
Steroid hormones bind to specific receptors where?
In the cytosol or nucleus
The hormone receptor complex moves to the nucleus where it does what?
Binds to specific sites on DNA and affects gene expression.
The hormone receptor complex binds to specific sites that are called…
HREs
Binding of the hormone recpetor complex at a HRE does what?
Influences the rate of transcription with each steroid hormone affecting the expression of multiple different genes.
Where do hydrophillic signalling molecules bind?
The transmembrane receptors and they don’t enter the cytosol
Give two examples of hydrophillic extracellular signalling molecules?
peptide hormones and neurotransmitters
What happens when transmembrane receptors bind to the extracellular face?
The transmembrane receptors change conformation; the signal molecule does
not enter the cell, but the signal is transduced
across the plasma membrane
Transmembrane receptors act as signal transducters by doing what?
converting the extracellular
ligand-binding event into intracellular signals,
which alters the behaviour of the cell.
Transduced hydrophobic signals often involve what?
G proteins or phosphorylation cascades by kinase enzymes.
What is the function of a G protein?
G-proteins relay signals from activated receptors (receptors that have bound a
signalling molecule) to target proteins such as enzymes and ion channels.
How many intracellular signalling pathways do phosphorylation cascades allow to be affected?
More than one
T or F - Phosphorylation cascades involve just 1 event.
F - They involve a series of events with one kinase activating the next in the sequence and so on. They can result in the phosphorylation of many proteins as a result of the original signalling event.
Binding of the peptide hormone insulin results in…?
a conformational change that triggers
phosphorylation of the receptor. This starts a
phosphorylation cascade inside the cell,
which eventually leads to GLUT4-containing
vesicles being transported to the cell
membrane.
What causes type 1 diabetes?
An autoimmune response which causes the body to be unable to produce insulin.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
Loss of receptor function which causes the body to become insulin resistant.
Doing what can help improve the symptoms of type 2 diabtes?
Exercise; it triggers the recruitment of GLUT-4 molecules that improve glucose uptake of fat and muscle cells in the body.
Resting potential
A state where there is no net flow of ions across the cell membrane.
The transmission of a nerve impulse requires…
changes in the membrane potential of the neuron’s plasma membrane.
Action potential
A wave of electrical excitation along a neuron’s plasma membrane.
Give the steps of nerve transmission.
1) A neurotransmitter binds to a receptor at a synapse and initiates a response in the cell.
2) Ligand gated sodium channels open and cell’s action potential begins to rise.
3) Once action potential reaches a certain threshold, voltage gated sodium channels open and sodium ions rapidly diffuse into the cell.
4) Once the cell has depolarised and now has the voltage of 30mV, the voltage gated sodium channels deactivate and voltage gated potassium channels open.
5) Potassium ions rush out the cell and it returns back to its resting potential.
6) Hyperpolarisation happens and the sodium potassium pump transports excess concentrations of ions in and out the cell.
Retina
The area in the eye which detects light and contains 2 types of photoreceptor cells - rods and cones.
Rod cells
They function in dim light and do not allow colour perception
Cone cells
They only function in bright light and allow colour perception