Cell Signalling Flashcards
What are the stages of signal transduction?
- An extracellular signal molecule activates a membrane receptor
2.That in turn alters intracellular molecules to be transduced via a certain pathway - That then activates a cellular response
What is the first messenger?
The extracellular signal molecule.
What is the second messenger?
The intracellular signal molecules.
What are transducers?
In-between the first and second messenger system, membrane proteins act as transducers, converting the message of extracellular signals into intracellular messenger molecules that trigger a response.
What kind of chemicals can serve as extracellular signalling molecules (first messenger)?
Amines
Peptides & Proteins
Steroids
Other small molecules
Where are receptors located?
Cell surface receptors.
Intracellular (nuclear) receptors.
What are cell surface receptors?
*Membrane receptors for hydrophilic signalling molecules
*Activate a wide variety of intracellular “signal transduction” pathways
*FAST RESPONSE
*Co-ordinates gene regulation
What are intracellular (nuclear) receptors?
*Most receptors for hydrophobic signalling
molecules
*Act as transcription factors in
nucleus to regulate gene transcription.
*SLOW RESPONSE
What are the 4 main classes of receptors?
- Ligand-gated ion channels
- G-protein coupled receptors
- Enzyme-linked receptors
- Nuclear receptors
Which receptors are cell surface receptors?
*Ligand-gated ion channels (ionotropic receptors)
* G-protein-coupled receptors (metabotropic)
*Kinase-linked receptors.
What does ionotropic mean?
Forming an ion channel pore.
What does metabotropic mean?
Indirectly linked with ion channels on the plasma membrane through signal transduction pathways.
Which receptors are ionotropic?
*Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
*The y-amino buytyric acid (gaba)A receptor
What are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor?
Ligand gated ion channel that mediates effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on muscle.
How do nicotinic acetylcholine receptors work?
- Binding of acetylcholine opens a channel and allows Na+ entry
- Binds nicotin
- Electrical event (inward Na+ current) triggers response
- Calcium may also enter from this channel
What are the y-amino buytyric acid (gaba)A
receptor?
*Ion channel selective for Cl- ions.
*It is a inhibitory receptors.
*Important role in CNS.
What is the y-amino buytyric acid (gaba)A
receptor activated by?
- Benzodiazepines
*Alcohol
*Anaesthetics
What is an example of metabotropic receptors?
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.
Gaba B.
What are muscarinic acetylcholine receptors?
ACh also activates Muscarinic receptor.
More sensitive to muscarine than nicotine.
What is the common structure of all G protein coupled receptors?
- Receptors that activate G proteins all have 7 transmembrane domains
- At least 800 genes encode G protein coupled receptors
- Activated by many molecules
What is the function of G protein coupled receptors?
*Play a huge role in the regulation of cell function
What are the sub-units of G-protein coupled receptors?
- G proteins consist of three polypeptide chains, a, B and Y.
- In nature there are at least 16 a subunits, 5 b and 11 y.
What is the By subunit within the G-protein coupled receptors?
The B and Y subunits bind tightly to each other effectively forms a single by subunit.
What is the structure of the a subunit within the G-protein coupled coupled receptors?
The a subunit has a guanine nucleotide binding site that binds GTP or GDP.
The a-subunit can hydrolyse GTP.