Signal Transduction

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on signal transduction, including important terms related to receptors, signaling pathways, and cellular responses.

Signal Transduction

The process by which cells respond to external signals through receptors and transduction pathways.

Receptor

A membrane-bound or soluble protein that exerts physiological effects after binding to its ligand.

Cascade

A series of events in a signaling pathway where one event triggers the subsequent events.

Metabolic Enzyme

An enzyme that catalyzes biochemical reactions involved in metabolism.

Gene Regulator

A protein that regulates the expression of genes.

Cytoskeletal Protein

Proteins that form the cytoskeleton, providing structural support to cells.

Altered Metabolism

Changes in the metabolic processes of a cell in response to signaling.

Cell Shape or Motility

Changes in the physical form or movement of a cell due to signaling.

Cytokine Receptor

A receptor that binds cytokines and mediates immune responses.

G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)

A large family of receptors that interact with G-proteins to transmit signals into cells.

Integrins

Transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell-extracellular matrix adhesion.

Frizzled

A family of proteins involved in Wnt signaling pathways.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK)

A type of cell surface receptor that becomes activated by ligand binding and catalyzes phosphorylation of tyrosine residues.

Second Messenger

A molecule that relays signals received by receptors on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell.

Signal Amplification

The process by which a small amount of signal can lead to a large response.

Desensitization

A process by which a receptor becomes less responsive to repeated exposure to a stimulus.

Specificity

The ability of a receptor to selectively bind to its ligand and not to others.

Calmodulin

A calcium-binding messenger protein that interacts with various enzymes to regulate cellular processes.

Adenylyl Cyclase

An enzyme that converts ATP to cyclic AMP (cAMP) in response to a signal.

Phospholipase C (PLC)

An enzyme that cleaves phospholipids to produce inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG).

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.

Protein Kinase A (PKA)

An enzyme that is activated by cAMP and phosphorylates various protein targets.

Insulin Receptor

A receptor that binds insulin and initiates a signaling cascade for glucose uptake.

Transcription Factor

A protein that binds to specific DNA sequences to control the transcription of genetic information.

Nuclear Receptors

Receptors that regulate gene expression in response to steroid hormones.

Epinephrine

A hormone that mediates the 'fight or flight' response and increases glucose release from the liver.

Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

Channels that open or close in response to changes in membrane voltage.

Ligand-Gated Ion Channels

Channels that open in response to the binding of a specific molecule (ligand).

MAPK Cascade

A signaling pathway that involves a series of protein kinases and is crucial for cellular responses.

Gated Ion Channel

A type of ion channel that opens and closes in response to various stimuli.

Receptor Guanylyl Cyclases

Receptors that convert GTP to cGMP, a secondary messenger.