AP Bio-Unit 4-Cell Signaling-Review (Section 5.6)

Front

What role do protein kinases serve?

Back

Protein kinases add phosphate groups to activate enzymes.

Front

What is a hormone?

Back

A hormone is a chemical message that usually travels through the bloodstream to target cells.

Front

What is a membrane receptor?

Back

A membrane receptor is a protein that binds to signaling molecules and initiates a cellular response.

Front

What is quorum sensing?

Back

Quorum sensing is a process by which bacteria sense local population density through signaling molecules.

Front

What is a phosphorylation cascade?

Back

A phosphorylation cascade is a series of molecular events where proteins are sequentially phosphorylated, leading to a cellular response.

Front

What is the function of G proteins in cell signaling?

Back

G proteins act as molecular switches that relay signals from receptors to target proteins inside the cell.

Front

What are local regulators?

Back

Local regulators are signaling molecules that act over short distances to influence nearby cells.

Front

What is the difference between endocrine and paracrine signaling?

Back

Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream, while paracrine signaling involves local regulators affecting nearby cells.

Front

What is signal transduction?

Back

Signal transduction is the process by which a cell converts an external signal into a functional response.

Front

What is the role of second messengers in cell signaling?

Back

Second messengers are small molecules that amplify and relay signals within the cell after the initial receptor activation.