Cell Communication Flashcards

Flashcards covering vocabulary and key concepts in cell communication.

Why do cells need signals?

A cellular response to the environment can be critical for survival. For example, glucose signals yeast cells to increase glucose transporters and enzymes, allowing efficient uptake and use of glucose.

Cell Signaling Requirements

Large hydrophilic molecules, small hydrophobic molecules, and hormones.

Paracrine signaling

Signals that affect nearby target cells.

Endocrine signaling

Signals, called hormones, that travel long distances to affect target cells.

Ligand

A signaling molecule that binds to a receptor, causing a conformational change and activating the receptor.

G-protein-linked receptors

A receptor or enzyme that requires a ligand to bind to.

Enzyme-linked receptors

Receptors with enzyme function that are activated by the binding of a signal molecule, often in the form of a dimer.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

A category of enzyme-linked receptors found in animals that recognize various types of signaling molecules, such as growth factors.

Ras protein

A small GTPase protein involved in signal transduction pathways, often activated by receptor tyrosine kinases.

MAP-kinase-kinase-kinase

Enzymes that phosphorylate MAP kinases, leading to changes in protein activity and gene expression.

cAMP

A signal transduction molecule that activates protein kinase A (PKA), leading to phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins.

PKA

Protein kinase A; phosphorylates specific cellular proteins in response to cAMP.

Ligand-gated ion channels

Ligand binding causes ion channels to open and ions to flow through the membrane.

Signal transduction via DAG and IP3

A signal transduction pathway where an activated G protein activates phospholipase C, which cleaves PIP2 to produce diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol triphosphate (IP3), leading to calcium release.

Intracellular Receptors

Receptor proteins found in the cytosol or nucleus of target cells, activated by small or hydrophobic chemical messengers.

Hormonal Signaling in Multicellular Organisms

The response to a signaling molecule that depends on which cell is responding, determined by the set of proteins.

Cell's Response to Hormones

One hormone causes different effects in different cell types. All cells contain the same genome but only express particular genes.

Neurotransmitters

Signals released by nerve cells that transmit information to other nerve cells or muscle cells.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a cell converts one kind of signal or stimulus into another.

Ligand

A molecule that binds to a receptor protein, causing a change in the conformation of the receptor.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

Cell surface transmembrane receptors that work with the help of a G protein.

Protein Kinase

An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups from ATP to another protein, activating the protein.

Second Messengers

Small, non-protein, water-soluble molecules or ions that relay signals from receptors to target cells.

Paracrine Signaling

A type of local signaling in which a cell secretes a signal molecule that affects cells near it.

Synaptic Signaling

A more specialized type of local signaling that occurs in the animal nervous system.

Cell Communication

The ability of a cell to detect a signal, transduce it, and respond to it is called cell signaling or

Why do cells need signals?

A cellular response to the environment can be critical for survival. For example, glucose signals yeast cells to increase glucose transporters and enzymes, allowing efficient uptake and use of glucose.

Cell Signaling Requirements

Large hydrophilic molecules, small hydrophobic molecules, and hormones.

Paracrine signaling

Signals that affect nearby target cells.

Endocrine signaling

Signals, called hormones, that travel long distances to affect target cells.

Ligand

A signaling molecule that binds to a receptor, causing a conformational change and activating the receptor.

G-protein-linked receptors

A receptor or enzyme that requires a ligand to bind to.

Enzyme-linked receptors

Receptors with enzyme function that are activated by the binding of a signal molecule, often in the form of a dimer.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

A category of enzyme-linked receptors found in animals that recognize various types of signaling molecules, such as growth factors.

Ras protein

A small GTPase protein involved in signal transduction pathways, often activated by receptor tyrosine kinases.

MAP-kinase-kinase-kinase

Enzymes that phosphorylate MAP kinases, leading to changes in protein activity and gene expression.

cAMP

A signal transduction molecule that activates protein kinase A (PKA), leading to phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins.

PKA

Protein kinase A; phosphorylates specific cellular proteins in response to cAMP.

Ligand-gated ion channels

Ligand binding causes ion channels to open and ions to flow through the membrane.

Signal transduction via DAG and IP3

A signal transduction pathway where an activated G protein activates phospholipase C, which cleaves PIP2 to produce diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol triphosphate (IP3), leading to calcium release.

Intracellular Receptors

Receptor proteins found in the cytosol or nucleus of target cells, activated by small or hydrophobic chemical messengers.

Hormonal Signaling in Multicellular Organisms

The response to a signaling molecule that depends on which cell is responding, determined by the set of proteins.

Cell's Response to Hormones

One hormone causes different effects in different cell types. All cells contain the same genome but only express particular genes.

Neurotransmitters

Signals released by nerve cells that transmit information to other nerve cells or muscle cells.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a cell converts one kind of signal or stimulus into another.

Ligand

A molecule that binds to a receptor protein, causing a change in the conformation of the receptor.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

Cell surface transmembrane receptors that work with the help of a G protein.

Protein Kinase

An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups from ATP to another protein, activating the protein.

Second Messengers

Small, non-protein, water-soluble molecules or ions that relay signals from receptors to target cells.

Paracrine Signaling

A type of local signaling in which a cell secretes a signal molecule that affects cells near it.

Synaptic Signaling

A more specialized type of local signaling that occurs in the animal nervous system.

Cell Communication

The ability of a cell to detect a signal, transduce it, and respond to it is called cell signaling or

Autocrine Signaling

A cell signals to itself, releasing a signal that binds to receptors on its own surface.

Juxtacrine Signaling

Signaling that requires direct physical contact between the signaling cell and the receiving cell.

Signal Amplification

Enzyme cascades amplify the cell's response to a signal. At each step in the cascade, the number of activated products is much greater than in the preceding step.

Termination of the Signal

Signaling pathways need to be deactivated to prevent continuous signaling.

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