Cell Signaling Steps and Mechanisms
This page details the intricate process of cell signaling through its three main steps: reception, transduction, and response.
Definition: Reception involves the binding of a ligand (signaling molecule) to a specific receptor, initiating the signaling cascade.
The transduction phase converts external chemical signals into internal cellular responses through various mechanisms.
Vocabulary:
- Kinases are enzymes that transfer phosphate groups, activating cellular processes
- Phosphatases remove phosphate groups, deactivating cellular processes
- Secondary messengers are intracellular molecules that relay signals within the cell
Highlight: The response phase represents the culmination of the signaling pathway, resulting in specific cellular changes such as gene activation/deactivation, protein modifications, or metabolic adjustments.
Example: Cellular responses can include:
- Gene activation or suppression
- Programmed cell death (apoptosis)
- Changes in membrane permeability
- Metabolic pathway modifications