Cell Communication and Signaling

A series of flashcards focused on vocabulary and key concepts related to cell communication and signaling mechanisms.

Cell Communication

Cells constantly signal to one another to coordinate functions and maintain homeostasis.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that occurs when cells do not receive sufficient signaling.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

The network outside cells that provides structural and biochemical support.

Quorum Sensing

A communication system used by bacteria to coordinate behavior based on population density.

Autoinducers

Small signaling molecules released by bacteria to communicate their population density.

Paracrine Signaling

A form of cell signaling where cells communicate over short distances via messenger molecules.

Autocrine Signaling

Cell signaling where the signaling cell binds to its own signal to trigger a response.

Endocrine Signaling

Long-distance signaling involving hormones that travel through the bloodstream.

Signal Transduction Pathway

A series of processes by which a signal on a cell's surface is converted into a specific cellular response.

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

A large family of cell surface receptors that work with the help of G-proteins.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP)

A second messenger used in many biological processes, generated from ATP.

Phosphorylation Cascade

A series of events where enzymes add phosphate groups to proteins, altering their function.

Signal Reception

The initial stage of cell signaling where molecules bind to specific receptors on cell surfaces.

Transduction

The process by which a receptor-bound signal is relayed and amplified inside the cell.

Response

The end result of signal transduction, often involving changes in gene expression or cellular activity.

Ligand

A molecule that binds to a specific receptor to initiate a signaling pathway.

Intracellular Receptors

Receptors located inside the cell that bind to non-polar signaling molecules.

Ligand-Gated Ion Channels

Receptors that open in response to the binding of a signaling molecule, allowing ions to pass through.

Protein Kinase

An enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from ATP to specific proteins, regulating their activity.

Calcium Ions as Second Messengers

Calcium ions that act as signaling molecules to elicit cellular responses.

GTP and GDP

Nucleotides that act as molecular switches in signal transduction pathways.

Specificity of Cell Signaling

The ability of different cells to respond to the same signaling molecule in varied ways.

Signal Termination

The process by which signaling molecules are removed or receptors are inactivated.

Gap Junctions

Channels that allow direct communication between adjacent cells.

Crosstalk

The interaction between different signaling pathways that can influence cellular responses.

Receptor Proteins

Proteins on or inside cells that bind to signaling molecules and initiate cellular responses.

Receptor Conformation Change

The alteration of a receptor's shape upon binding a signaling molecule.

Phosphodiesterase

An enzyme that degrades cyclic AMP, thus terminating the signal.

Hormonal Signaling

A type of cell communication where hormones are released into the bloodstream and act on distant targets.

Diffusion

The process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Scaffolding Proteins

Proteins that organize and hold signaling complexes together to improve efficiency.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Membrane Potential

The electrical potential difference across a cell membrane that influences cell signaling.

Transmembrane Proteins

Proteins that span the entire cell membrane and can act as receptors.

G-Protein Activation

The process by which G-proteins are activated upon receptor binding, initiating a signaling cascade.

Calcium Release Mechanism

Processes that result in the release of calcium ions from storage sites within cells.

Signal Amplification

The process by which a small signal is amplified to produce a significant cellular response.

Gene Transcription Regulation

The mechanisms by which cell signals influence the expression of specific genes.

Chemical Factors

Molecules secreted by cells that influence the behavior of nearby cells during communication.

Neural Signaling

The communication between nerve cells through neurotransmitters.

Phenotypic Variation

Differences in the observable traits of cells that can arise from varying responses to signals.

Genomic Response

Changes in gene expression patterns as a response to signaling events.

Hydrophilic Signaling Molecules

Water-soluble molecules that typically cannot cross the plasma membrane and bind to surface receptors.

Hormone Receptor Interaction

The binding of hormones to their receptors, leading to cellular responses.

Cholera Toxin Effect

A toxin that causes continuous activation of G-proteins, leading to severe dehydration.

Biochemical Pathways

Series of chemical reactions within a cell that are affected by signaling molecules.

Output Response

The final outcome of a signaling pathway, which can include cellular actions or changes.

Receptor Recycling

The process of returning receptors to the cell surface after they have been internalized.

Cellular Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions within a cell, often regulated by signaling.

Population Density Detection

The ability of bacteria to sense and respond to changes in their population size through signaling.