Cellular Signaling, Gene Expression, and Cell Cycle Flashcards

Paracrine Signaling

A mode of growth factor signaling where signaling molecules act on nearby cells.

Endocrine Signaling

A mode of cellular signaling where signaling molecules are transported to target cells via the bloodstream.

Juxtacrine Signaling

Contact-dependent signaling that requires direct physical contact between adjacent cells.

Autocrine Signaling

A mode of signaling where a cell secretes a signaling molecule that binds to receptors located on the same cell.

Kinase

An enzyme that adds a phosphate group to a target molecule or protein.

Phosphatase

An enzyme that removes a phosphate group from a protein.

Ligase

An enzyme that joins proteins and other molecules together.

Protease

An enzyme that cleaves or breaks down proteins.

Polymerase

An enzyme that builds polymers, such as RNA polymerase synthesizing RNA.

Pleiotropic

Describes growth factors or molecules capable of producing multiple different effects depending on environmental circumstances or concentration.

Phosphorylation

The addition of a high-energy, highly charged phosphate group to a protein, altering its shape, conformation, cellular location, interactions, or activity.

G-Protein Linked Receptor Pathway

A signaling process where ligand binding causes a conformational change in a 7-transmembrane receptor, prompting a G-protein to exchange GDP for GTP, activate adenylyl cyclase, convert ATP to cAMP, and activate downstream effectors such as PKA.

Ion Channel Linked Receptor

A cell surface membrane receptor whose binding of a specific ligand directly opens or closes an ion channel.

Enzyme-Linked Receptor

A cell membrane receptor that either functions directly as an enzyme or is directly associated with an enzyme.

G-Protein Linked Receptor

A 7-transmembrane receptor protein that activates a G-protein to regulate another effector enzyme upon ligand binding.

Cis-Acting Factors

Regulatory DNA sequences located near the target gene on the same DNA strand.

Trans-Acting Factors

Molecules, typically proteins like transcription factors, that travel and act on a target gene.

4E-BP