Cell Communication Flashcards

Flashcards based on Cell Communication lecture notes.

Ligand

A molecule that brings a signal to a cell and initiates a response.

Autocrine signaling

Signaling where cells signal to themselves or similar cells.

Direct signaling across gap junctions

Signaling that allows small molecules to move between cells via intracellular mediators.

Paracrine signaling

Signaling that moves by diffusion through the extracellular matrix.

Paracrine signals

Examples include synaptic signals and neurotransmitters.

Endocrine signaling

Signals from distant cells, typically producing a slower, long-lasting effect.

Example of endocrine signaling

Hormones.

Synaptic cleft

The space between nerve cells where neurotransmitters diffuse.

Ion channel-linked receptors

Receptors that form a pore through the plasma membrane that opens when a signaling molecule binds.

Gated ion channels

Receptors where the open pore allows ions to flow into or out of the cell.

G-protein-linked receptors

Receptors that involve a heterotrimeric protein.

Alpha subunit

The subunit that dissociates and triggers a cellular response in G-protein-linked receptors.

Enzyme-linked receptors

Receptors with a transmembrane region, and extracellular and intracellular domains.

Receptor tyrosine kinase

Enzyme-linked receptor that forms a dimer upon ligand binding.

Autophosphorylation

The process where tyrosine residues on the intracellular domain are phosphorylated.

Phosphatases

Enzymes that terminate the signal by removing phosphates.

Hydrophobic signaling molecules

Signaling molecules that diffuse across the plasma membrane and interact with intracellular receptors.

Transcription factors

Many intracellular receptors are these and interact with DNA in the nucleus and regulate gene expression.

Steroid hormones

Hormones with similar chemical structures to cholesterol.

Signaling molecules

Other types are water soluble ligands and gas ligands.

Signal transduction

The process when a ligand binds to a receptor and the signal is transmitted through the cell membrane and into the cytoplasm.

Dimerization

The process where two receptors bind to each other to form a stable complex.

Signaling pathway

A chain of events including second messengers, enzymes, and activated proteins that follow ligand binding to a receptor.

Signal integration

Signals from two or more different cell-surface receptors merge to activate the same response in the cell.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)

A receptor tyrosine kinase involved in regulation of cell growth, wound healing, and tissue repair.

Second messenger

Small molecule that propagates a signal within the cell.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP)

This serves as a second messenger to activate or inactivate proteins within the cell.

Phosphodiesterase

An enzyme that converts cAMP into AMP, terminating the signal.

First messenger

The ligand that brings a signal to a cell.

ERK

A MAP kinase that activates translation when it is phosphorylated.

MNK1

Phosphorylates eIF-4E

eIF-4E

When this molecule becomes phosphorylated, the mRNA unfolds, allowing protein synthesis in the nucleus to begin.

β-adrenergic receptors

Adrenaline activates these to increase cyclic AMP (cAMP), which activates PKA.

Tyrosine kinases

Growth factors bind to these and initiate a pathway that activates the MAP kinase pathway.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Phosphatases

Enzymes that remove the phosphate group attached to proteins by kinases.

Mating factor

Yeast cells communicate by releasing it as a signaling molecule.

Quorum sensing

Bacterial signaling because it occurs only when there is a sufficient number of cells.

Autoinducers

Molecules utilized in quorum sensing.

EGFR

The EGF binds to this receptor

cell signaling

An increase in cellular metabolism is one of the responses to _

growth

Cell is one of the responses to cell signaling.

apoptosis

The cell signal induced __ is an example of programmed cell death

autocrine signalling

One of the 4 categories of signalling:

direct signalling across gap junctions

One of the 4 categories of signalling:

paracrine signalling

One of the 4 categories of signalling:

endocrine signalling

One of the 4 categories of signalling:

ion channel-linked receptors

One type of cell-surface receptors:

G-protein-linked receptors

One type of cell-surface receptors:

enzyme-linked receptors

One type of cell-surface receptors:

hydrophobic

These signaling molecules can diffuse directly across the membrane

transcription

These factors interact with DNA in the nucleus and regulate gene expression.

steroid

These hormones have similar chemical structures to their precursor

messengers

A signaling pathway is a chain of events including second _,

enzymes

A signaling pathway is a chain of events including _

proteins

A signaling pathway is a chain of events including activated __

MAP

These kinases activate translation when they are phosphorylated

integration

Signal is when signals from two or more different cell-surface receptors merge

quorum

sensing is a bacterial signaling that occurs when there are a sufficient number of cells.

density

Population is often the key factor for signaling in bacteria.

molecule

Yeast cells can communicate by releasing this signaling __

dimer

Binding of a signaling molecule to the extracellular domain causes the receptor to form a _

membrane

Steroid hormones can diffuse directly across the plasma into the cell

gene expression

One example of cell-signaling is ___

cellular metabolism

One example of cell-signaling is ___

cell growth

One example of cell-signaling is ___

apoptosis

One example of cell-signaling is ___

gated ion channels

These receptors allows ions to flow into or out of the cell.

second messenger

A small molecule that propagates a signal within the cell:

ligands

Cell signals are terminated by degradation of _

tyrosine kinases

Growth factors bind to ___

quorum sensing

Molecules utilized in __ are called autoinducers

apoptosis

The histological section of a foot of a 15-day-old mouse embryo reveals tissue between the toes, which _ will eliminate before the mouse reaches its full gestational age

different responses

The same signal may produce __ in different signals

quorum sensing

Autoinducers are molecules used in ___

ions

The open pore allows to flow into or out of the cell

kinase

MAP _ stimulates protein expression that eventually leads to cell division

B

The a subunit dissociates from the _ and y subunits and triggers a cellular response.

translation

ERK is a MAP kinase that activates ___ when it is phosphorylated

bacteria

In _ population density is often the key factor for signalling

phosphatases

_ are enzymes that remove the phosphate group attached to proteins

cancer

If EGFR is activated at inappropriate times, uncontrolled cell growth (_) may occur.

G protein

Heterotrimeric