Martin Cann - Signalling Flashcards
What is the effect of extracellular signalling molecules bind to specific receptors?
- it initiates a response within the target cell. Most receptors are found at the plasma membrane.
How can hydrophobic signalling molecules pass into the cell?
- some hydrophobic molecules can pass via the plasma membrane into the cell.
- because they’re hydrophobic they must be carried to the target cell by proteins that protect them.
How do signalling molecules bind to the receptor and what is the effect?
- Hormone/receptor complex recruits a second receptor molecule. The receptor is therefore activated through dimerization. Other receptors are activated by conformational changes.
What causes changes in the cell when the signalling molecule are receptor binds?
- the conformational change is what is detected by the inside of the cell
What is the function of endocrine signalling?
- co-ordinates behaviour over long distances.
- specialised cells secrete Luganda called hormones into the blood stream (e.g. Adrenaline) or sap (e.g auxin) to be distributed around the body.
- Slow signalling
What is the function of paracrine signalling?
- Acts over small distances.
- diffusion of ligand is limited by extracellular matrix and enzymes e.g Wnt, Hedgehog, and BMP proteins in cell fate determination in development.
> important in cell fete determination in development
What is the function of autocrine signalling?
- the cell proudces a ligand that binds to its own receptors e.g. An reinforce a developmental decision among cells.
- Mechanism is strongest among groups of cells enabling that group to enter a specific developmental pathway e.g. Insulin-like growth factor in muscle development.
- Eicosenoids are fatty acid derivatives made by cells in all mamillian tissues.
- On tissue damage Eicosenoids production increases and acts in an autocrine fashion to mediate the pain, fever and inflammatory responses.
> cell signals to itself
What is contact dependant signalling for?
- signalling of integral membrane proteins adjecent cell.
> in contrast to paracrine signalling. in paracrine signalling to neighbour it is by diffusion this means that the the signal is sent to more than directly adjecent neighbour.
What happens if a cell receives no signals?
- it will die by apoptosis.
- for a cell to survive it must receive a minimum of compliment molecules. This allows it to survive and grow.
What are 2 factors that determine the response of a cell to a combination of signalling molecules?
- The subset of receptors that the cell possesses to detect those signals
- The nature of the intracellular machinery by which the cell interrupt the signal.
What is No produced in response to?
- sympathetic stimulation of endothelial cells adjoining Vascualature smooth muscle cells. NO passes to smooth muscle cells causing them to relax and for blood flow to increase.
Explain smooth muscle realisation via signalling molecules.
- nervous signal comes to synapse, endothelial cell layer, then underneath a smooth muscle cell layer in the blood.
- Acetyl choline is released on activation of sympathetic nervous system. To have the desired effect the signal must get through different cell layers.
- Actyl is released and must
what are G-protein linked receptors? What do they do?
- Largest family of cell surface receptor (7-TM receptors) with a huge variety of signalling ligand a (hormones, neurotransmitters, local mediators).
- Receptors mediate processes as diverse metabolism, learning and memory, olfaction so and visions.
What is the common structures of 7-Tm passes?
- extracellular ligand binding domain, the intracellular G-protein binging domain.
- the ligand for the receptor is known as the ‘first messanger’. Thought to have evolved from non-G-protein linked structurally similar receptors in lower organisms.
What happens when G proteins are switches off?
- it binds to Guanidine diphosphate (GDP).
> when a ligand binds to receptor and activates it. The GDP is lost in exchange for GTP.
What are the 6 steps of the cycle involving G-protein receptors?
- Binding of hormone induces a conformational change in the inactive receptor- activating it.
- Activated receptor binds to Galpha subunit
- Activated receptor causes conformational change in Galpha, triggering dissociation of GDP.
- Binding of GTPto Galpha triggers dissociation of Galpha both from the receptor and from Gbetagamma.
- Hormone dissociates from receptor, Galpha binds to effector activating it.
- Hydrolysis of GTP to GDP causes Galpha to dissociate from effector and re-associate with Gbetagamma.
What is the main response of Luteinizing hormone on the ovaries?
- progesterone secretion
What is the major effect of adrenaline on the heart muscle?
- Glycogen breakdown, increase in heart rate “fight or flight”.
What is the major response of glucagon on the liver?
- Glygogen breakdown
What is the major response of vasopressin on the kidneys?
- water resorption.
What is cAMP syntheses bY.
Adenyl cyclase (AC).
How do G-proteins regulate AC?
- AC is activated by one type of G protein (Gas) and inhibited by another (Gai).
- AC syntheses cAMP from ATP and cAMP is cAMP-phosphodiesterase to turn off the signal. CAMP is a ‘secondary messenger’.
- there are 10 isoforms of AC in mammals, 9 regulated by G-proteins.
- G protein regulated ACs can also be regulated by Gbg and the secondary messanger Ca2+ for added complexity.
What is the effect of different hormones binding to receptors which are either stimulatory or inhibitory for AC?
- end result is that cAMP production is either up regulated or blocked.
What is the effect is G-alpha on g-protein?
- activates it