Chapter 8 - Cell Communication Flashcards

(27 cards)

1
Q

Cell communication involves both…?

A
  • Responding to incoming signals
  • Producing outgoing signals
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2
Q

Signals in cell communication are often _________ ________ but they can also be ___________ __________ (like light or temperature)

A

Chemical molecules and physical parameters

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3
Q

What are the 2 general reasons cells need to communicate?

A
  • Respond to a changing environment
  • Communicate with other cells
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4
Q

What is direct intercellular signaling?

A

Cell junctions allow signals to directly pass from one cell to another

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5
Q

What is contact-dependent signaling

A

Molecules bound to the surface of cells serve as signals to other cells encountering them

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6
Q

What is autocrine signaling?

A

Cells secrete signaling molecules that bind to their own surface receptors

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7
Q

What is paracrine signaling?

A

Cells release signals that affect nearby cells

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8
Q

What is endocrine signaling?

A

Signals (hormones) are released into the blood and affect target cells that are far away

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9
Q

What are the three stages of cell signaling?

A

1) Receptor activation–binding of a signaling molecule causes a confirmational change
2) Signal transduction–activated receptor stimulates proteins to make a signal transduction pathway
3) Cellular response–signal transduction pathway affects the functions and/or amounts of cellular proteins

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10
Q

What are 3 different ways cells respond to signals?

A
  • Alter metabolism
  • Alter cell shape or movement
  • Alter gene expression
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11
Q

What is a ligand?

A

It is a signaling molecule that binds noncovalently to its receptor with high specificity

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12
Q

What happens when a ligand binds to its receptor?

A

It changes the receptor structure, this conformational change transmits the signal across the membrane

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13
Q

The complex that forms between the ligand and its receptor is stable for a _______ period of time.

A

Limited

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14
Q

The binding and release between a ligand and receptor are relatively rapid and an ________ is reached

A

Equilibrium

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15
Q

In a Ligand-Receptor complex, what is kd’?

A

It is a dissociation constant, which is used to quantify the affinity receptors have for their ligands

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16
Q

When ligand concentration is above the Kd value, what happens to the receptors?

A

They are likely to have ligand bound to them

17
Q

When ligand concentration is below the Kd value, what happens to the receptors?

A

Most receptors will not be bound to their ligand

18
Q

Cell surface receptors are embedded into the plasma membrane to detect what kind of extracellular signals?

A

Signaling molecules that are small and hydrophilic or too large to pass through the plasma membrane

19
Q

What are the two important domains in an enzyme-linked receptor?

A

Extracellular signal-binding domain and an intracellular catalytic domain

20
Q

Most enzyme-linked receptors function as _________ ________, which means they do what?

A

Protein kinases; they transfer a phosphate group from ATP to a specific amino acid

21
Q

____________ alters the structure and function of a protein.

A

Phosphorylation

22
Q

What is G-protein receptors named after?

A

They interact with intracellular proteins called G proteins which can bind to GTP and GDP

23
Q

What is the function of a ligand-gated ion channel?

A

A signaling molecule binds to it, which opens and allows the flow of ions across the membrane (allowing facilitated diffusion)

24
Q

What is ligand-gated ion channels important for?

A

They are important for communication between neurons and muscle cells

25
What is an intracellular receptor?
These are found in the **cytosol or nucleus** which binds signal molecules that are **small and hydrophobic**
26
Activation of an intracellular receptor typically leads to a change in _________ __________
Gene expression
27
What are the steps of an estrogen receptor?
1) **Estrogen diffuses across the plasma membrane**, enters the nucleus, and binds to the **estrogen receptor** (receptor goes through a conformational change) 2) Receptors form a **dimer**, bind next to specific genes, and **activate transcription** 3) **mRNA are then translated into proteins** that affect the structure and function of cells