Biology Flashcards
(569 cards)
Insulin
Favors the transport of glucose into organs as well as the storage of excess glucose when blood glucose concentrations are high
Glucagon
Triggers the release of sugar stores and raises blood glucose concentration
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Autoimmune disease in which insulin producing cells (beta cells) in the islets of Langerhans are destroyed
- Requires regular injections of insulin to prevent hyperglycemia and to permit entry of glucose into cells
Type 2 Diabetes
Caused by end-organ sensitivity to insulin; partially inherited and due to environmental factors (high carb diets and obesity)
Hormones
Signaling molecules that are secreted directly into the bloodstream to travel to a distant target tissue. At that tissue hormones bind to receptors inducing a change in gene expression or cellular functioning
Peptide Hormones
- Range in size from quite small (ADH) to relatively large (insulin)
- Derived from larger precursor polypeptides that are cleaved during posttranslational modification. These smaller units are taken to Golgi for further modifications that activate the hormone and direct it to correct location. Released by exocytosis after being packaged in vesicles
- Charged, and cannot pass through plasma membrane, they bind to an extracellula receptor
- Peptide hormone is considered the first messenger and it binds to receptor and triggers transmission of a second signal called the second messenger.
- Type of receptor determines what happens
Signaling Cascade
The connection between the hormone at the surface and the effect brought about by second messengers within the cell. At each step there is a possibility of amplification
Ex: One hormone molecule may bind to multiple receptors before it is degraded. Also, each receptor may activate multiple enzymes each of which will trigger the production of large quantities of second messengers
Second Messenger Examples
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP), Inositol Triphosphate (IP3) and calcium
Activation of a G protein coupled recepto
Binding of a peptide hormone triggers the receptor to either activate or inactivate an enzyme called adenylate cyclase raising or lowering the levels of cAMP. cAMP can bind to intracellular targets such as protein kinase A, which phosphorylates transcription factors like cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) to exert the hormone’s ultimate effect
Effects of Peptide Hormones
Usually rapid but short lived because these hormones act through transient second messenger systems. It is quicker to turn them on and off, compared with steroid hormones but their effects do not last without relatively constant stimulation.
Peptides are generally water soluble so they can travel freely in the bloodstream and do not require carriers
Steroid Hormones
- Derived from cholesterol and are produced primarily by gonads and adrenal cortex
- Derived from non polar molecule so they can easily cross the cell membrane
- Receptors are usually intracellular (in cytosol) or intranuclear
- Upon binding to receptor, steroid hormone-receptor complexes undergo conformational change
- receptor can then bind to DNA resulting in either increased or decreased transcription of particular genes depending on identity of hormone
Effects of steroid hormones
Slower but longer lived than peptides because steroid hormones cause alterations in the amount of mRNA and protein present in a cell by direct action on DNA
Steroid hormones are not water soluble and thus must be carried by proteins in bloodstream to travel around the body. Some of these proteins are very specific and carry only one hormone while other proteins are non specific. Hormones are generally inactive while attached to a carrier protein and must disassociate to function
Dimerization
common form of conformational change which is pairing of two receptor-hormone complexes
Amino acid derivative hormones
- Less common
- Hormones are derived from one or two amino acids usually with a few additional modifications
- Ex: Thyroid hormones are made from tyrosine with the addition of several iodine atoms
- Chemistry of this family of hormones is less predictable
- Catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) bind to G protein couples receptors while the thyroid hormones bind intracellularly
Direct hormones
-Secreted and act directly on a target tissue
-Ex: insulin released by the pancreas causes increased uptake of glucose by muscles
Other hormones such as tropic hormones require an intermediary to act
Gonadotropin releasing hormone
Stimulates the release of LH and FSH. LH then acts on the gonads to stimulate testosterone production in the male and estrogen production in female. GnRH and LH do not cause direct changes in physiology of muscle, bone, and hair follicles; rather they stimulate the production of another hormone by another endocrine gland that acts on these target tissues
Hypothalamus
Regulates the pituitary gland through tropic hormones
- Located in forebrain above pituitary gland and below thalamus
- Because the pituitary and hypothalamus are close the hypothalamus controls the pituitary through paracrine release of hormones into a portal system that connects two organs
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
receives some of the light input from retinae and helps to control sleep-wake cycles
Negative Feedback
Occurs when a hormone (or product) later in the pathway inhibits hormones (or enzymes) earlier in the pathway. This type of feedback maintains homeostasis and prevents wasted energy by restricting production of substances that are already present in sufficient quantities
Hypothalamus Interactions with the Anterior Pituitary
- Hypothalamus secretes compounds into the hypophyseal portal system which is a blood vessel system
- Hormones released from hypothalamus travel to anterior pituitary by traveling down pituitary stalk and binding to receptrs in AP stimulating release of other hormones
Hormone examples from Hypothalamus and AP
Gonadotropin releasing hormone –> FSH and LH
Growth hormone releasing hormone –> GH
Thyroid releasing hormone –> TSH
Corticotropin releasing hormone –> ACTH
Prolactin inhibiting factor
- Actually is dopamine
- Released by the hypothalamus and causes a decrease in prolactin secretion
Hypothalamus and Posterior Pituitary
- PP does not receive tropic hormones through portal system
- Neurons in the hypothalamus send their axons down the pituitary stalk directly into PP which can then release oxytocin and ADH
OXytocin
Hormone that stimulates uterine contractions during labor as well as milk letdown during lactation
Also involved in bonding behavior