12.1: Cells Detect A variety of Signals

3 steps of cell communication

1. signal reception - signal detected by target cell where signal is detected by a target cell by binding to receptor protein on surface or inside cell

2. Intracellular signal transduction - binding causes changes in receptor’s shape = transduction

3. Cellular response - when transduced signal finally triggers a specific cellular response. Could be anything including catalysis by an enzyme or rearrangement of exoskeleton

transduction

the process of converting a received signal into a cellular response, often involving a change in the shape of a receptor protein.

different chemical signals

autocrine, juxtracrine, paracrine, hormones

autocrine

signals diffuse and binds to receptors on own surface, influencing its own behavior.

juxtracrine signals

signals that affect adjacent cells by direct contact or through gap junctions, influencing neighboring cell behavior.

paracrine signals

chemical signals that diffuse over a short distance to influence nearby cells' behavior.

hormones

travel through circulatory systems of animals or vascular systems of plants