Cellular Communication and Signaling

A series of flashcards covering the key concepts of cellular communication and signaling based on lecture notes.

Requirements for cells to communicate

Cells require signaling molecules, receptors, and a way to transmit signals.

Three steps to cellular communication

Reception, transduction, response.

Types of local signaling

Paracrine, autocrine, and synaptic signaling.

Long-distance (endocrine) signaling

Involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream to target distant cells.

Ligand

A signaling molecule that binds to a receptor.

Major types of receptors

G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases; they differ in structure and response mechanisms.

Types of membrane receptors

G protein-coupled receptors, receptor tyrosine kinases, ion channel receptors; they differ in how they transduce signals.

Signal transduction pathway

A series of molecular events triggered by a signal receptor leading to a cellular response.

Importance of protein kinases

Add phosphate groups to proteins, altering their activity and function.

What is a phosphorylation cascade?

A series of phosphorylation events that amplify a cellular response.

Second messengers

Small molecules that amplify signals within cells, e.g., cAMP and IP3/DAG.

Signal amplification

The process of increasing the strength of a signal within a cell.

Signal specificity

The ability of cellular signaling pathways to produce specific responses to specific signals.

Signal efficiency

The effectiveness of a signaling pathway in generating a response.

Signal termination

The process of stopping the signal transduction once a response is achieved.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, crucial for development and homeostasis.