12.1: Cells Detect A variety of Signals

3 steps of cell communication

1. signal reception - signal detected by target cell

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

3. Cellular response - when transduced triggers a specific cellular response.

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 produced and received by same cell

juxtracrine signals

signals that affect adjacent cells by direct contact or through gap junctions

paracrine signals

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

hormones

travel through circulatory systems of animals or vascular systems of plants