Cellular Communication and Signaling Processes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to cellular communication and signaling processes.

Ligands

Small signaling molecules that bind to receptors on cells to initiate a signal.

Receptors

Molecules on or in cells that bind to ligands and transduce signals into cellular responses.

Hydrophilic ligands

Water-soluble ligands that cannot cross the plasma membrane and must bind to surface receptors.

Hydrophobic ligands

Lipid-soluble ligands that can cross the plasma membrane and bind to intracellular receptors.

Endocrine signaling

A mode of signaling where hormones are released into the bloodstream to affect distant target cells.

Paracrine signaling

Signaling that affects neighboring cells rather than cells at a distance.

Synaptic signaling

A form of signaling that occurs via the release of neurotransmitters across a synapse.

Autocrine signaling

A signaling process where a cell secretes a signal that binds to its own receptors.

Contact-dependent signaling

A mode of signaling that requires direct physical contact between signaling and target cells.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that requires signals to either induce or inhibit the process.

Morphogens

Signaling molecules that guide the differentiation of cells based on their concentration.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)

Receptors that transmit signals through the activation of G-proteins.

Ion channel receptors

Receptors that open or close in response to the binding of a signaling molecule, allowing ions to pass through the membrane.

Enzyme-coupled receptors

Receptors that, upon ligand binding, activate their enzymatic function to initiate a signaling cascade.