SIGNALLING MOLECULES

SUBMITTED BY: GROUP 5

WALEED AHMAD
TALHA ZAKRIA

FARZEEN WAHID

ROBILA TARIQ

NIMRA MUNIR

DATED: 10-01-2019
 SIGNALING MOLECULES:

Cell signaling is done through certain types of chemical messengers of different

nature, these interacting molecules are called signaling molecules. These are also
called ligands.

 NATURE OF SIGNALLING MOLECULES:

There are many signaling molecules which differ in chemical nature. Following
are some examples of these molecules:

 Steroid hormones: (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, corticosteroids,

ecdysone)
Because of their hydrophobic character they are able to inter cells by diffusing
across the plasma membrane then they bind to intracellular receptors that are
expressed by the hormonally responsive target cells.

 Nitric oxide:
It is a paracrine signaling molecule in the nervous immune and circulatory
system. It is able to diffuse directly. NO alters the activity of intracellular target
enzymes. It is synthesized from the amino acid arginine by the enzyme nitric
oxide synthase.

 Carbon monoxide:
it functions as a signaling molecule in the nervous system it is closely related to
NO and appears to act similarly as neurotransmitter and mediator of blood vessels
dilation.

 Neurotransmitters:
 It carries signals between neurons and from neurons to other types of target cells.
The release of neurotransmitters is signaled by the arrival of an action potential at
terminus of neuron then they diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptor
of the target cell surface. Unlike the steroid hormones they are unable to cross the
plasma membrane of the target cell.

 Peptide hormones and growth factors:

They include a wide variety of signaling molecules that control animal cell
growth and differentiation. The first of these factors are nerve growth factors
NGF. They regulate the development and survival of neurons.

 Eicosanoids(lipids):
It includes prostaglandins, prostacyclin, thromboxanes and leukotrienes. They
stimulate a variety of response in their target cells including blood platelets
aggregation, inflammation and smooth muscle contraction.

MECHANISM:
 All molecules act as ligands that bind to receptors expressed by their target
cells.
 Some of these molecules carry signals over long distances whereas others act
locally to convey information between neighboring cells.
 They also differ in their mode of action on target cells. Some are able to cross
plasma membrane and bind to intracellular receptors in cytoplasm whereas most
bind to receptors in target cell surfaces.
 Cell surface receptors also function to regulate cell behavior.

The signaling molecules (ligands) are secreted by cells into

extracellular space. There, they can float like messages in bottle over to neighboring cells.
Not all cells can hear a chemical message. A neighboring cell must have a right
receptor for that signal.
 When a signaling molecule binds to its receptor, it starts altering the shape or
activity of receptor, triggering a change inside cell. The message carried by ligand is often

relayed through a chain of chemical messengers inside the cell. Thus, the intercellular signal
is converted into an intracellular signal that triggers a response. The signal received by receptor
is relay by very specific chemical messengers

THE END