Cell Communication Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the structure of the cell membrane?
Lipid bilayer made of phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycolipids.
What is the main function of the cell membrane?
It maintains the intracellular vs. extracellular environment.
What does the Fluid Mosaic Model describe?
It describes how lipids and proteins can move within the membrane.
What is meant by membrane asymmetry?
The inner and outer layers of the membrane have different lipid compositions.
What is contact-dependent signaling?
Direct signaling via membrane contact, e.g., Delta-Notch signaling.
How do gap junctions facilitate cell communication?
They allow direct cytoplasmic exchange between neighboring cells.
What is paracrine signaling?
Local signaling via secreted molecules like histamine.
What is autocrine signaling?
A cell responds to signals it secretes itself.
How does synaptic signaling work?
Neurons use neurotransmitters like acetylcholine to signal across synapses.
What is endocrine signaling?
Hormones travel through the bloodstream to act on distant cells.
What are the main types of signal receptors?
GPCRs, enzyme-linked receptors, and ion channels.
What are examples of second messengers in signal transduction?
cAMP, Ca²⁺, IP₃, and DAG.
What is signal amplification?
A small signal can trigger a large cellular response.
How does Dictyostelium discoideum communicate?
It uses cAMP for aggregation during starvation.
What is a feature of steroid hormones like cortisol?
They are lipophilic and diffuse through the membrane to act on intracellular receptors.
What is the role of nitric oxide (NO) in communication?
It is a short-lived gas that relaxes blood vessels.
