Unit 4: Transduction Signaling Flashcards
How is the signal transduction pathway activated?
By two cells exchanging mating factors
How do cells communicate with each other?
Via chemical signals
What is a signal transduction pathway?
A series of steps by which a signal on a cell’s surface is converted into a specific cellular response
How do cells in multicellular organisms communicate?
Via chemical messengers
How do animal cells communicate in local signaling?
By direct contact or cell-cell recognition
How do animal cells communicate in long-distance signaling?
By specific chemicals called hormones
The ability of a cell to respond to a signal depends on whether or not it…
Has a receptor specific to that signal
Who discovered signal transduction and how did they discover it?
Earth Sutherland first discovered signal transduction by studying the effects of epinephrine.
Define reception
When a signal molecule, or ligand ,binds to a receptor protein, altering the receptor’s shape.
Define ligands
Highly specific to particular receptors either on cell surface (membrane receptors) or inside of the cell (cynosolic and intracellular receptors)
Are membrane receptors’ ligands polar or nonpolar?
Polar
Are cytosolic receptors’ ligands polar or nonpolar?
Nonpolar
Where are intracellular receptor proteins found?
The cytosol or nucleus of target cells
Which chemical messengers can readily cross the membrane and activate receptors?
Small or hydrophobic chemical messengers
Examples of hydrophobic messengers
Steroids and thyroid hormones of animals
Define a transcription factor
proteins that help turn specific genes “on” or “off” by binding to nearby DNA
An activated hormone-receptor complex can act as a:
Transcription factor
Define a ligand-gated ion channel receptor
Membrane proteins that contain a pore which allows the regulated flow of selected ions across the plasma membrane when receptor changes shape
What causes a ligand-gated ion channel receptor to open?
When a signal molecule binds as a ligand to the receptor
What is the function of protein kinases?
Transfer phosphates from ATP to protein, a process called phosphorylation
What happens at each step of transduction?
The signal is transduced into a different from, usually a shape change in a protein
What is a pathway’s “first messenger”
Small, nonprotein, water-soluble molecules or ions that spread throughout a cell by diffusion.
When does a cell’s response occur?
When cell signaling leads to regulation of transcription or cytoplasmic activities
What are cytoplasmic activities?
Metabolic pathways, ie glycolysis, photosynthesis, and cell division