AP Bio Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Front

What are gap junctions?

Back

Cell junctions in animal cells that allow for direct communication between adjacent cells.

Front

What type of macromolecule are receptor molecules?

Back

Proteins that bind to signaling molecules and initiate a cellular response.

Front

What is synaptic signaling?

Back

A type of signaling that occurs in animal nervous systems when neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft, the space between a nerve and its target cell.

Front

What do protein kinase molecules do?

Back

They add a phosphate group to other molecules, which can activate or deactivate them.

Front

What are ion channels?

Back

Located in the plasma membrane, these receptors act as gates that allow ions to enter or exit the cell, playing a crucial role in the nervous system.

Front

What is paracrine signaling?

Back

A form of cell signaling where the target cell is close to the signal-releasing cell, allowing for localized communication.

Front

What is the role of neurotransmitters?

Back

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another target cell.

Front

What is the function of GPCRs (G-protein coupled receptors)?

Back

They are a large family of receptors that detect molecules outside the cell and activate internal signal transduction pathways.

Front

What are plasmodesmata?

Back

Channels between plant cells that allow for transport and communication between them.

Front

What is the difference between endocrine and paracrine signaling?

Back

Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling long distances through the bloodstream, while paracrine signaling occurs over short distances between nearby cells.