cell-cell interactions & signaling

what are the stages of cell signaling in target cell

1. reception

2. transduction

3. response

what type of cell interaction - direct contact of cells

direct signaling

what type of cell interaction - signaling occurs over short distances

paracrine signaling

what type of cell interaction - signaling occurs over long distances

endocrine signaling

describe juxtacrine signaling

ligand + receptor are both physically attached to the two communicating cells (direct signaling)

what is the function of cell adhesion complexes

link neighboring cells directly to one another — rely on transmembrane proteins like cadherins

cadherins

calcium-dependent transmembrane proteins that build + maintain strong cell-to-cell connections

what is pleiotropy?

several phenotypes controlled by the sam gene or cell signaling pathway

enhancers are modular. what does that mean?

independently regulate specific aspects of gene expression without affecting other functions; allowing fine-tuned gene expression