Physiology 2130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Membrane Protein, Autocrine Signalling, Cytokine

• School: Western University
• Department: Physiology
• Course: Physiology 2130
• Professor: Anita Woods

Document Summary

Physiology lecture 3 communication of the cells. Communication: long distance communication is key, nervous and endocrine systems coordinate many functions within the body to maintain homeostasis. Example: metabolism, heart rate: they use chemical and electrical means of communication. Chemical signal released by neuron onto target cell. Affect only cells with receptors for that chemical: hormones. Affect only cells with receptors for it. Not as fast as neurotransmitter: neurohormones. Short distance communication: chemical-mediated cell-cell communication. Autocrine: signal acts on cell that made it. Cytokine: chemical signal made by any type of cell in response to a stimulus: contact-dependent signals. Surface molecules on one cell membrane bind to a membrane protein of another cell (both sides react) Example: in the dark, you walk around, feel a table, react to avoid the table: gap junctions. Protein channels that make cytoplasmic bridges" between adjacent cells.