Cell Signaling

Introduction
• What is Cell Signaling?
• Is a biological mechanism that occurs in cells which gives cells an
ability to receive or generate the signals in response to their
surrounding environment.

• How the Cell to Cell Communication is possible?

• Cell to cell communication is mediated by extra-cellular signal
molecules.
• Some of those operate over long distances.
• Others signal only to immediate neighboring cells.
Definitions
• Signaling
• Cell-cell communication or communication of the environment to the cells
interior via signals.
• Signal transduction
• Process of converting extracellular signals into intracellular responses.
• Ligand
• The signaling molecule.
• Receptors
• Bind specific ligands. Transmit signals to intracellular targets.
• Different receptors can respond differently to the same ligand.
Properties of Cell Signaling

™Specificity

™Affinity

™Cooperativity

™Sensitization

™Amplification

™Integration
 Cell Signaling – General Pathway
1. Reception:
• A cell detects a signaling molecule from the outside
of the cell.
• A signal is detected when the chemical signal (also
known as a ligand) binds to a receptor protein on
the surface of the cell or inside the cell.

2. Transduction:
• When the signaling molecule binds the receptor it
changes the receptor protein in some way.
• This change initiates the process of transduction.
Signal transduction is usually a pathway of several
steps.
• Each relay molecule in the signal transduction
pathway changes the next molecule in the pathway.

3. Response:
• Finally, the signal triggers a specific cellular
response.
 Classification of Signaling Pathway

Cell Signaling
Pathways

Autocrine Paracrine Endocrine Juxtacrine Synaptic

Pathway Pathway Pathway Pathway Pathway

In autocrine signaling cells respond to molecules they
produce themselves. Examples include many growth
factors.
In paracrine signaling the signaling molecule affects
only target cells in the proximity of the signaling cell.
An example is the conduction of an electric signal
from one nerve cell to another or to a muscle cell.

In endocrine signaling hormones are produce by

an endocrine gland and sent through the blood
stream to distant cells.
Juxtacrine signalling (or contact- Synaptic signaling is similar to paracrine

dependent signalling) is a type of cell / cell signaling but there is a special structure

or cell / extracellular matrix signalling in called the synapse between the cell

multicellular organisms that requires close originating and the cell receiving the signal.

contact.
Components of Cell Signaling
• Signaling Molecule
• Receptor
• Signalling Intermediate
• Effector Proteins
 Types of Signaling Molecules

Neurotransmitter:
Hormone:
• Endogenous chemicals
• A class of signalling
that transmit signals
molecules produced by
across a synapse from
glands in multicellular
one neuron to another
organisms.
"target" neuron. Cytokines:
• Signalling molecule of
• Transported by the
• Released from synaptic immune system.
circulatory system to
vesicles from synapses
target distant organs to
into the synaptic cleft,
regulate physiology and
where received by
behaviour.
receptors on other
synapses.

S.No Type of Receptor
G-protein coupled
1 system that detect
receptors
2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
Receptor Guanylyl
3 They function as intracellular second messenger
Cyclases
4 Gated ion channels
5 Adhesion receptors
6 Steroid receptors
Types of Receptors
Activity Example
B- adregenic receptor
Indirectly activated through GTP binding proteins
or G proteins enzymes
epinephrine.
Catalyzes the phosphorylation of several site of
cytosolic domain of Insulin receptor
receptor
cyclic guanylyl
monophosphate (cGMP)
Acetylcholine receptor ion
They function as simplest signal transducers
channel
Interact with ECM Conveys instructions to
cytoskeleton system about cell Integrins
migration or adherence to matrix
Bind specific ligands such as estrogen and alter
Steroid hormones
the genes transcription.
Responses to Cell Signaling
• Gene expression is altered
• Enzyme activities are altered
• Protein-protein interactions are induced or inhibited
• The localization of certain proteins

The Cell
• – divides or stops dividing
• – differentiates
• – commits suicide or kills something
• – moves somewhere or stops moving
• – alters its metabolism
• – passes on the signal
The Extracellular signals can act slowly or rapidly to change the behavior of a target cell
G-protein coupled receptor Mediated Cell Signaling

Upon receptor stimulation by a ligand called an agonist, the state of the receptor changes.
G alpha dissociates from the receptor and G beta-gamma, and GTP is exchanged for the bound GDP, which leads
to G alpha activation.
G alpha then goes on to activate other molecules in the cell.
Cell Signaling – Cell Cycle - Cancer
Cell Signaling - Apoptosis
The death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's
growth or development – is called as Apoptosis