Cell Communication

These flashcards cover key concepts related to cell communication, including signaling mechanisms, types of receptors, and cellular responses.

Epinephrine

A hormone released by the adrenal glands that is involved in the body's response to stress, activating various cellular responses.

Signal Reception

The process by which a target cell detects a signaling molecule that binds to a receptor protein on the cell surface.

Paracrine Signaling

A form of local signaling where a cell communicates with nearby cells via secreted messenger molecules.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

A large family of cell-surface receptors that work with the help of G proteins to transmit signals from outside the cell to its interior.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs)

Membrane receptors that catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups from ATP to another protein, triggering multiple signal transduction pathways.

Ligand

A signaling molecule that binds to a receptor, causing a change in the receptor’s shape and initiating a signal transduction pathway.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a signal is converted into a specific cellular response by a series of molecular interactions.

Second Messengers

Small, nonprotein, water-soluble molecules or ions that relay signals received by cell-surface receptors to target molecules within the cell.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP)

A widely used second messenger in cell signaling, produced from ATP by the enzyme adenylyl cyclase.

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death that involves a cascade of specific cellular events leading to death, critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis.

Calcium Ions (Ca2+)

Widely used as a second messenger in signaling pathways due to their ability to cause significant changes in cellular activities at low concentrations.