Cell Communication Flashcards
(28 cards)
Molecules secreted by cells to hit receptors
ligand
Cytokine – Immune system
Neurotransmitter – nervous system

Communication between different cells
Intracellular signaling
Communication within one cell
Intercellular signaling
Cells that release chemical signals or ligands
Signaling cells
Molecule that binds to another specific molecule
Ligand
Protein that ligand is intended to bind to in or on a cell
Receptor
Cell intended to receive ligand via receptor
Target cell
Autocrine signaling
Cell targets itself
Direct contact
Ligand binds to receptor on adjacent cell through gap junction. Ex. Intestines and plants
Paracrine signaling
Ligands bind to nearby cells. Typically target adjacent cells. Diffusion through ECM
Endocrine signaling
Ligands Target distant cells and are transported via bloodstream. Receptors determine target cells from not target cells
Synaptic signaling
Paracrine signaling where nerve cells release neurotransmitters which bind to receptors on nearby nerve or muscle cells
What do insecticides affect?
Inhibit synapse receptors from accepting acetylcholine
What kind of response does a cell have when the ligand binds to the receptor?
Chemical response
Series of chemical reactions after ligand binds to a receptor
Signal transduction
Signal transduction includes
Activating or inactivating proteins
 different cells react differently to same ligand
Phosphorylation
Add phosphate via kinase to activate
Kinase enzyme receptor
Receptor tyrosine kinase. Receptor is dimerized and autophosphorylated. Phosphate is added to tyrosine on response protein. Receptors move closer as phosphate is added. ex. Epidermal growth factor receptor – wound healing
Dephosphorylation
Phosphatase enzyme removes phosphate from proteins and deactivates it
Integral protein receptors have ______ hydrophobic domains
7
Two locations for integral protein receptors
1) Cell surface/transmembrane (cell specific protein markers) - plasma membrane: signal transduction
2) intracellular/internal/cytoplasmic - inside cell: Respond to hydrophobic ligands. Regulate transcription
Three classes/categories of receptors
1) Ion channel linked/gated receptors
2) enzymatic receptors
3) G protein coupled receptors
Selective ion channels open in response to ligand binding. Contain many hydrophobic amino acid
Ion channel linked/gated receptor
Receptor is an enzyme or is associated with an enzyme. Enzyme is activated when ligand binds. Both extracellular and intracellular domains
Enzymatic receptors