Cell Signaling

Flashcards

Cell Signaling

The process by which cells communicate with each other through chemical or electrical signals.

Endocrine Signaling

A form of cell communication where hormones are released into the bloodstream to act on distant target cells.

Paracrine Signaling

A form of cell communication where signals affect nearby cells.

Autocrine Signaling

A form of cell communication where a cell targets itself by releasing a hormone or chemical messenger that binds to receptors on its own surface.

Contact-Dependent Signaling

A type of cell signaling that requires the interaction of membrane-bound signal molecules between adjacent cells.

Receptor Protein

A protein molecule located on the surface or within a cell that binds to specific ligands, leading to a cellular response.

Lipid-Soluble Signaling Molecules

Hormones, such as steroid hormones, that can pass through the cell membrane and bind to receptors inside the cell.

Water-Soluble Signaling Molecules

Hormones, such as peptides and amino acids, that bind to receptors on the cell surface, triggering a response inside the cell.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a cellular signal is transmitted through the cell, often involving a cascade of biochemical events.

Phosphorylation Cascade

A series of enzyme-mediated phosphorylation reactions within a cell that result in a signaling response.

Ligand

A molecule that binds specifically to a receptor site of another molecule.

Chemical Messengers

Biological compounds that transmit signals to trigger a response in target cells, such as hormones and neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released by neurons to transmit signals across a synapse to a target cell.

Glycolysis

A metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels resulting from the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that help initiate or regulate the transcription of specific genes by binding to nearby DNA.