BIOL 1202 Chapter : Chapter 11 Guide
Document Summary
Ligand- signaling molecule that binds to a receptor in the plasma membrane. Signal transduction pathway- series of steps when a signal on a cell"s surface is converted into a specific cellular response. Local signaling- may communicate by direct contact, or cell-to-cell recognition. Long-distance signaling- result of a hormone entering the blood stream. Cell to another part of the body, not cell-to-cell. One cell releases a ligand and binds to a target cell right next to it. Cells have to be right next to each other, but it extremely fast acting: synaptic signaling. Cell that releasing a ligand is a neuron {(nerve cell). Cells have to be right next to each other. Slow acting, but can affect all cells in the body. Can take a long time to work, but affects lots of other cells all over the body. Reception- cell is receiving a molecule, have to fit together. The binding between a signal molecules (ligand) and receptor is highly specific.