PSL201Y1 Chapter Notes -Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Hormone Response Element, Mast Cell
Document Summary
Gap junctions link adjacent cells and arm formed by plasma membrane proteins, called connexins that form. The movement of ions through gap junctions electrically couples the cells, such that electrical signals in one cell are directly transmitted to the neighboring cells. The movement of small molecules through gap junctions metabolically couples the cells, such that one cell can provide necessary nutrients to other cells. Cells communicate via chemical messengers, which are all ligands, molecules that bind to proteins reversibly. Communication through chemical messengers occurs when one cell releases a chemical into the interstitial fluid (secretion) and the target cell responds to the chemical messenger. A target cell responds beause it has certain proteins called receptors, that specifically recognize and bind the messenger. The binding of messengers to receptors produces a response in target cell through a variety of mechanisms referred to as signal transduction. The strength of the target cell response increases as the number of bound receptors increases.
