Cellular Communication

Front

What are the three steps of signal transduction?

Back

Reception, Transduction, Response

Front

What is the role of second messengers in cellular communication?

Back

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

Front

What does amplification of the signal molecule refer to?

Back

It refers to the process where a small number of signaling molecules can produce a large response in the target cell.

Front

What is an example of direct cell communication?

Back

White blood cells bumping into each other sharing antigen information.

Front

What is a cell surface receptor protein?

Back

A protein located on the cell membrane that binds to signaling molecules and initiates a cellular response.

Front

Define reception in the context of signal transduction.

Back

The process by which a signaling molecule binds to a receptor on the target cell.

Front

What is transduction in cellular signaling?

Back

The conversion of the signal from one form to another, often involving a series of molecular events.

Front

What is a signaling molecule?

Back

A chemical substance that transmits information between cells.

Front

Explain the concept of feedback inhibition in cellular communication.

Back

A regulatory mechanism where the output of a process inhibits its own production, maintaining homeostasis.

Front

What is the difference between paracrine and endocrine signaling?

Back

Paracrine signaling involves local cell communication, while endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream.