Part 8 Cell Communication
Part 8 Cell Communication
Part 8 Cell Communication
Cell communication
Individual cells Multicellular
2. Transduction
3. Response
How can Cells detect what's going on around them, and can respond in real time?
Small, hydrophobic ligands can pass through the plasma membrane and bind to
intracellular receptors
Peptide (protein) ligands make up the largest and most diverse class
+ Respond to ligands that cross the cell membrane into the cell. (Ligand: small, hydrophobic (water-
hating) molecules: ex. Hormone)
+ Open a channel to allow ions to pass through the membrane (Ligand-gated ion channels)
+ Activate an enzyme that sets off a response inside the cell (Receptor tyrosine kinases)
+ Activate a protein which is not an enzyme, but which can affect other cell components (G
protein-coupled receptors)
Cell
Cell Short
communication distance
Cell
Cell
Cell
No distance
2. Transduction
3. Response
Signal transduction
Signal transduction: The process whereby one type of signal is converted to another
Phosphorylation
Kinases are a type of enzyme that adds a phosphate group to another molecule (including other
proteins). This is called phosphorylation. Phosphorylation can activate or deactivate other
proteins.
Signal transduction
Phosphorylation
2. Transduction
3. Response
The same signal molecule can induce different responses in different target cells
An animal cell depends on multiple extracellular signals
Quick: changes in cell
movement, secretion, or
metabolism— need not involve
changes in gene expression
+ An increase in cellular metabolism: the conversion of glucose to glycogen (and back) can be
regulated depending on the energy needs of the cell.
+ Cell growth: cells do not normally divide unless they are stimulated by signals from other cells.
+ Cell death: apoptosis is controlled cell death; cells can be stimulated die if they are abnormal,
infected with a bacteria or virus, or during specific parts of development.