AP - Cell Communication (Litten)

Front

What type of transmembrane receptor is involved in cell communication and signal transduction?

Back

G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)

Front

What is the term for the junction where two neurons communicate through neurotransmitters?

Back

Synapse

Front

What are the chemical messengers produced by glands in the body that facilitate long-distance communication between cells?

Back

Hormones

Front

What determines if a cell can respond to a specific signal molecule?

Back

Presence of specific signal receptors on the target cell.

Front

What is the role of second messengers in cell signaling?

Back

They relay messages from the inside of the membrane throughout the cytoplasm.

Front

What is the primary function of G-protein coupled receptors?

Back

To transmit signals from outside the cell to the inside, activating intracellular pathways.

Front

What is the difference between endocrine and paracrine signaling?

Back

Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream to distant target cells, while paracrine signaling involves local signaling between nearby cells.

Front

What is the significance of receptor specificity in cell signaling?

Back

Receptor specificity ensures that only target cells with the appropriate receptors respond to a particular signal, preventing inappropriate responses.

Front

What are neurotransmitters and their role in synaptic transmission?

Back

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Front

How do signal transduction pathways amplify a signal?

Back

Through a cascade of molecular interactions, where one activated molecule activates multiple downstream molecules.