Cell Communication

Unit 4: Cells
AP Biology
Mrs. Kasprowicz

Big Idea 3
Living systems store,
retrieve,
transmit and respond to
information essential to life
processes.

Enduring
Understanding 3.D

Cells communicate by
generating,
transmitting and receiving
chemical signals.

Essential Knowledge
3.D1-4

3.D.1 Cell communication

processes share common
features that reflect a shared
evolutionary history
3.D.2 Cell communicate with each
other through direct contact with
other cells or from a distance via
chemical signaling.

Essential Knowledge
3.D1-4

3.D.3 Signal transduction

pathways link signal
reception with cellular
response
3.D.2 Changes in signal
transduction pathways can
alter cellular response

Essential Knowledge
3.D1-4

3.D.3 Signal transduction

pathways link signal
reception with cellular
response
3.D.2 Changes in signal
transduction pathways can
alter cellular response

OVERVIEW OF CELL
SIGNALING

Overview of Cell Signaling

Cell Signaling: Stage 1

Reception
binding

of a chemical messenger
(ligand) coming from outside the
cell to a receptor protein on the
surface of, or inside, the cell

example

of specificity

Overview of Cell Signaling

Cell Signaling: Stage 2

Transduction
Process

by which the chemical

message is converted into a
cellular response
often involves a signal
transduction pathway
(sequence of changes in a series
of different molecules)

Overview of Cell Signaling

Cell Signaling: Stage 3

Response
The

cells reaction to the

chemical message usually a
changes in the cells metabolic
activity
ex. enzyme activation,
rearrangement of the cytoskeleton,

turning on/off a gene

Overview of Cell Signaling

An Example of Cell
Signaling
Response

Reception

Transducti
on

Response

METHODS OF
COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN CELLS

Cell-to-Cell (Direct)
Contact
Example 1: Plant
Plasmodesmata

Cell-to-Cell (Direct)
Contact

Ex.1: Plant Plasmodesmata

channels

that connect adjacent

plant
cells; cytoplasm flows between
cells
water, small solutes, proteins &
RNA can pass between cells
create a living continuum within
the plant

Cell-to-Cell (Direct)
Contact
Example 1: Plant
Plasmodesmata

Cell-to-Cell (Direct)
Contact
Ex. 2 Animal Gap
Junctions

protein channels that

connect adjacent animal cells
small molecules, including
ions, sugars, amino acids
move between cells

Cell-to-Cell (Direct)
Contact
Ex. 2 Animal Gap
Junctions

communication between
heart cells

Cell-to-Cell (Direct)
Contact
Ex. 3 Immune Cells

Local Signaling
Ex. 1 Paracrine Signaling
Release of signals that act on
nearby cells

Local Signaling
Ex. 1 Paracrine Signaling
Growth
factors
stimulate
cell
division

Local Signaling
Ex. 2 Paracrine Signaling

Local Signaling
Ex. 3 Synaptic Signaling
between 2 nerve cells
(neurons)
uses chemical signals called
neurotransmitters

Local Signaling
Ex. 3 Synaptic Signaling

Local Signaling
Ex. 3 Synaptic Signaling

Long Distance
Signaling

Endocrine Signaling
specialized glands produce
chemical signals called
hormones
hormones travel in the blood
to their target cells/organs

Long Distance
Signaling

MECHANISMS OF
CELL
COMMUNICATION

Mechanisms of Cell Communication:

Different Signals.

Water Soluble
(hydrophillic)

Most are
hydrophillic;
Some
hydrophobic

Lipid Soluble
(hydrophobic)

Mechanisms of Cell Communication:

Use Different Reception

W
at
er
S
ol
u
bl
e

Li
pi
d
S
ol
u
bl
e

Mechanisms of Cell Communication:

And different response mechanisms.

W
at
er
S
ol
u
bl
e

Li
pi
d
S
ol
u
bl
e

SIGNALING PATHWAY:
RECEPTION

Reception of the
Signal
Signaling

begins with the

recognition of a ligand
(chemical messenger) by a
receptor protein
Different receptors recognize
different ligands (shapes
must match to function)
- this is an example of

specificity

Reception of the
Signal
Binding of the messenger to
the receptor causes the
shape of the receptor to
change, beginning the next
stage signal transduction

Location of Receptors
1) Intracellular

Receptors
- in the cytoplasm OR
nucleus
- small, hydrophobic
molecules
(ie. steroids, nitrous oxide)
- these receptors often
complete
signal transduction as well

Intracellular Receptor: Testosterone

Hormone
(testosterone)

EXTRACELLULAR
FLUID

Plasma
membrane

Receptor
protein

Hormonereceptor
complex

DNA
mRNA

NUCLEUS

Figure 11.6

CYTOPLASM

New protein

The steroid hormone

testosterone passes
through the
plasma membrane.
1

Testosterone binds to a
receptor protein in the
cytoplasm, activating it.

The hormone-receptor
3
complex
enters the nucleus and
binds to
specific
The
boundgenes.
protein
4
stimulates the
transcription of the gene
into
mRNA.
The mRNA is translated
5
into a
specific protein.

Location of Receptors
2) Membrane Receptors
- in the cell membrane
- hydrophilic (water-soluble)
signals
(ie. proteins, peptides,
amines )
- these receptors trigger
multi-step
signal transduction

Types of Membrane Receptors

G-protein linked
receptors
2) Receptor tyrosine
kinases
3) Ion channel receptors
1)

Membrane Receptors:

G-protein-linked receptors

Membrane receptor is linked to a

G-proteins:

proteins activated by the transfer

of a phosphate from a molecule of
GTP
- this is the first step in a protein
relay

Receptor NOT bound to signal Receptor binds to signal &

GDP is attached to G protein = activated receptor attaches to GG protein in INACTIVE
protein
GTP can bind to G-protein =
ACTIVATED

Activated G-protein
transfers to a membranebound inactive enzyme,
ACTIVATING this enzyme,
triggering a signal transduction

GTP GDP, and the G-protein

becomes INACTIVE once again

Membrane Receptors:

G-protein-linked receptors

Uses
- embryonic development
- sensory reception (vision/smell in
humans)

Involved in diseases (cholera, pertussis,

botulism) bacteria toxins interefere w/
G-protein function

60% of medicines influence G-protein

pathways

Membrane Receptors:

receptor tyrosine kinases

Kinases:

a protein that adds a phosphate

to another molecule (phosphorylates it)

Tyrosine

Kinases:
- proteins that form dimers
- parts of the tyrosine molecule transfer
of phosphates to relay proteins
- remain active as long as ligand is
attached

INACTIVE tyrosine kinase

monomers

tyrosine kinase is ACTIVATED

as phosphate groups are
attached from ATP ADP

LIGAND binds; tyrosine

kinase DIMER forms

INACTIVE relay proteins bind

to tyrosine kinase and are
ACTIVATED

Membrane Receptors:

receptor tyrosine kinases

One activated tyrosine kinase
molecule can activate 10+
transduction pathways and/or
cell responses
Faulty tyrosine kinase receptors
can have a widespread affect
on cell function

Membrane Receptors:

ion channel receptors

Incoming ions trigger the response

Act like a gate when the
receptor changes shape
Used in synaptic signaling in the
nervous system; some are
controlled by electric, rather than
chemical, signals

Ion channel is INACTIVE

(ligand is un-bound)

Ligand binds; receptor

changes shape and ions
are allowed to cross the
membrane

Ligand is released; Ion

channel is INACTIVED
(gate closes)
Ions stop crossing
membrane

SIGNALING PATHWAY:
SIGNAL
TRANSDUCTION

Signal Transduction
Process

by which a signal is
converted to a cellular response
- triggered by the binding of the
receptor to its specific ligand
- involve signaling cascades that
relay
message to intracellular targets
- signal is often amplified along the
way
- often use second messengers

Signal Transduction:

Second Messengers
small, non-protein, water-soluble
molecules or ions that are part of
the signal cascade
Are used in signal pathways
started by G-linked protein
receptors and receptor tyrosine
kinases

Widely used include: cyclic

AMP and Ca2+ ions

Second Messenger:

Cyclic

AMP

Adenylyl cyclase (found in cell

membrane)
converts ATP into cyclic AMP.
Cyclic AMP is inactivated by
phosphodiesterase,
forming AMP.

Second Messenger:

AMP

Cyclic

An
Example:
Cholera

Diarrhea,
vomiting &
death from
dehydration

Second Messenger:

ions

Ca

2+

used in muscle contraction,

secretion
of certain substances and cell
division
concentration in cytoplasm is
normally low (kept that way
using
protein pumps)
Ca2+ levels increase in
response to a

Second Messenger:

ions

Ca

2+

Second Messenger:

ions

Ca

2+

Ca2+ levels increase in

response to a
signal transduction pathway;
released
from the ER in response to
other 2nd
messengers (IP3 and DAG)

Second Messenger:

ions

Ca

2+

Signal Transduction:

Phosphorylation
Cascades

A series of protein
kinases add a phosphate
group to the next protein in
the cascade sequence,
leading to the triggering of
the cells response

Figure 11.8 in your textbook

SIGNALING PATHWAY:
CELL RESPONSE

Types of Responses
Cytoplasmic
Changes to a cell
process
Examples:
- open/close ion
channels
- activate an
enzyme
- trigger
cytoskeleton
activity

Nuclear
changes in gene
expression (genes are
turned on or off to
synthesize needed
proteins in the cell)
Examples:
- growth factors
- mating pheromones
in yeast
- cAMP levels regulate
gene expression in
bacteria

Types of
Responses:
Cytoplasmic

Types of
Responses:
Nuclear

An Illustrative Example:

Epinephrine

Epinephrine
a.k.a.

adrenaline
common hormone in
vertebrates
Involved in short-term stress
response known as fight or
flight

Epinephrine Receptor
epinephrine

is a polar, amine ligand

(water-soluble; must use membrane
receptor)
Reception: epinephrine binds to a
G-protein-linked receptor embedded
in the cell membrane
- activated G-protein triggers shape
change in adenylyl cyclase
(enzyme)

Epinephrine Receptor
Signal Transduction:
- adenylyl cyclase converts
ATP
the 2nd messenger cyclic AMP
- this triggers another protein
(kinase A) leading to a
phosphorylation cascade

Epinephrine Receptor

Cell Response: (in the liver)

glycogen stores glucose
(glucose glycogen inhibited)

STOP & THINK!!

Why do you need the extra
glucose?

Epinephrine Signaling Pathway

Same Signal, Different

Response
Different

kinds of
cells have different
receptors that can
respond to the
same signal

same

signal, same
receptor, but
different signal
transduction
pathway

OR
Different responses
triggered by the
same
ligand!

Different responses
triggered by the
same ligand!

Epinephrine
( & norepinephrine)

Things get complicated

quickly
http

://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content
/cells/cellcom
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