Ch. 16 pt. 1: Cell communication

•General principles of cell signaling•G-protein-linked receptorsYeast cells respond to mating factor

In general, cells must sense and respond to environment to survive and propagate. In simplest systems, it mediates e.g. photophobic / phototrophic behaviors and mating in yeasts…. We see the shmooformof yeast when presented with mating factor.In multicellularorganisms, it is somewhat more complicated, with manysignals at one time and over a developmental time period.

Signal transduction is the process whereby one type of signal is converted to another

Common principle is that signal is converted. This conversion is termedsignal transduction.This process involves a signal moleculederived from a signaling cellto be detected by a target cellvia a receptor.

Animal cells can signal to one another in various ways

There are hundreds of kinds of signals, allfall into four classes.Endocrinesignals arereleased into the bloodor sap (in plants).Paracrinesignalsdiffuse locally,example is ininflammation rxn. Neuronal signal

, can be long distance, buttargeted. Release of NT.Contact dependentsignal involve ligand /receptor intrxns between cells.

Contact dependent signaling controls nerve-cell production

An example of contactdependent signaling isthe decision to become anerve cell in anepithelial sheet of cells.A ‘tipping’ of potentialtoward a nerve cell leadsto expression of Delta,all cells express thereceptor: Notch.When Delta binds Notch, turns off expression of nerve-cell-type genes and expressother supporting celltype genes.

Signalingmolecules andsystems are quitediverse. This is asmall subset of the types of signals that areknown.