c2.1

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to chemical signaling.

Signaling Molecules

Also called ligands, these are molecules that cells use to communicate with one another.

Receptors

Proteins embedded in cell membranes that specifically bind to signaling molecules.

Ligand-Receptor Interaction

The binding of a ligand to a receptor which results in a change in the receptor's shape.

Cascade of Events

A series of cellular responses triggered by the binding of a ligand to its receptor.

Quorum Sensing

A phenomenon where group behavior changes in response to population density.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to specific target cells.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Cytokines

Proteins that aid in cell signaling and communication between nearby cells.

Calcium Ions in Signaling

Involved in various cellular processes, including muscle contractions and neurotransmitter release.

Intracellular Receptors

Receptors that are located inside the cell and bind with signaling molecules that can cross the cell membrane.

Transmembrane Receptors

Receptors that span the cell membrane and bind with signaling molecules that cannot enter the cell.

G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR)

A type of transmembrane receptor that activates a G protein when a ligand binds.

Tyrosine Kinase

An enzyme that phosphorylates tyrosine residues, involved in cellular signaling processes.

Positive Feedback Loop

A process where the end product of a reaction stimulates further production of the product.

Negative Feedback Loop

A mechanism that counteracts changes in a physiological variable to maintain homeostasis.

Endocrine Glands

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that secrete substances through ducts rather than directly into the bloodstream.

Gene Expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, typically a protein.

Hydrophobic Signaling Molecules

Molecules that can easily cross the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors.

Hydrophilic Signaling Molecules

Molecules that cannot cross the cell membrane and bind to transmembrane receptors.

Signal Amplification

The strengthening of a signal during the transduction pathway, allowing a small number of signaling molecules to lead to a large response.