Why do signaling molecules only affect certain cells?

Table of Contents

Why do signaling molecules only affect certain cells?

Cells have proteins called receptors that bind to signaling molecules and initiate a physiological response. Different receptors are specific for different molecules. This is important because most signaling molecules are either too big or too charged to cross a cell’s plasma membrane (Figure 1).

How can one signal cause different effects in the same organism?

How can a single hormone have different effects on the same or different cells? It all depends on the receptor; a single hormone can activate many signal transduction pathways in the same cell or separate cells. A single hormone can have multiple effects on the organism, depending on the receptor.

Why do different cell types respond differently to the same hormone?

Cells can have many receptors for the same hormone but often also possess receptors for different types of hormones. The number of receptors that respond to a hormone determines the cell’s sensitivity to that hormone, and the resulting cellular response.

Why can ligand respond differently in different cells?

Cells will often use the same signal transduction pathway to detect ligands but connect those pathways to different cellular processes, such as metabolism, gene expression and cell morphology. This allows different types of cells to generate different responses to the same ligand.

Why can’t a signaling molecule causes different responses in different cells?

Why can a signaling molecule cause different responses in different cells? The transduction process is unique to each cell type; to respond to a signal, different cells require only a similar membrane receptor.

Are Signalling molecules specific?

Signaling molecules are often called ligands, a general term for molecules that bind specifically to other molecules (such as receptors). The message carried by a ligand is often relayed through a chain of chemical messengers inside the cell.

What affects cell signaling?

Regulatory pathways are activated by extracellular factors, including hormones, growth factors, or cytokines. These extracellular factors activate intracellular cascades of protein networks within the cell.

Are all cells are capable of cell signaling?

A ligand is a molecule that binds another specific molecule. In the case of cell signaling, the ligand binds a receptor, a protein in or on the target cell. Not all cells have receptors for each ligand, so that only cells that have the receptor are capable of detecting and responding to the signal

How can one signaling molecule cause different effects in different types of cells?

When a signaling molecule joins with an appropriate receptor on a cell surface, this binding triggers a chain of events that not only carries the signal to the cell interior, but amplifies it as well. Cells can also send signaling molecules to other cells.

How can the same signaling pathway have different effects on different cell types?

The specific way in which a cell reacts to its environment varies. In many cases, the same signal molecule binds to identical receptor proteins yet produces very different responses in different types of target cells, reflecting differences in the internal machinery to which the receptors are coupled (Figure 15-9).

How is it possible that two different ligands can trigger the same cellular response?

The same ligand can cause different responses in different cell types due to differences in protein expression in the different cells, where the same signal activates different signaling pathways, leading to a different response in each cell type.

Why do different cells respond differently to the same signal?

It varies according to the set of receptor proteins the cell possesses, which determines the particular subset of signals it can respond to, and it varies according to the intracellular machinery by which the cell integrates and interprets the signals it receives (see Figure 15-1).

Why can signaling molecule cause different responses in different cells?

Why can a signaling molecule cause different responses in different cells? The transduction process is unique to each cell type; to respond to a signal, different cells require only a similar membrane receptor.

Do all chemicals affect different cells the same way?

All people are not equally sensitive to chemicals, and are not affected by them in the same way. There are many reasons for this. People’s bodies vary in their ability to break down or eliminate certain chemicals due to genetic differences.

Why do different types of cells respond differently to the same ligand?

Signal Transduction Pathways Cells will often use the same signal transduction pathway to detect ligands but connect those pathways to different cellular processes, such as metabolism, gene expression and cell morphology. This allows different types of cells to generate different responses to the same ligand.

How can cells have different responses to the same ligand?

The same ligand can bind to different receptors causing different responses (e.g.. acetylcholine). On the other hand, different ligands binding to different receptors can produce the same cellular response (e.g. glucagon, epinephrine).

Can a single ligand produce different responses in different cells?

More videos on YouTube The same ligand can cause different responses in different cell types due to differences in protein expression in the different cells, where the same signal activates different signaling pathways, leading to a different response in each cell type.

Why can a Signalling molecule cause different responses in different cells?

Why can a signaling molecule cause different responses in different cells? The transduction process is unique to each cell type; to respond to a signal, different cells require only a similar membrane receptor.

Do all cells respond to the same signals?

How can a single hormone have different effects on the same or different cells? It all depends on the receptor; a single hormone can activate many signal transduction pathways in the same cell or separate cells. A single hormone can have multiple effects on the organism, depending on the receptor.

Are receptors specific to signaling molecules?

Cells have proteins called receptors that bind to signaling molecules and initiate a physiological response. Different receptors are specific for different molecules. This is important because most signaling molecules are either too big or too charged to cross a cell’s plasma membrane (Figure 1).

What type of molecules are signaling molecules?

Signaling molecules can range from small proteins to small ions and can be hydrophobic, water-soluble, or even a gas. Hydrophobic signaling molecules ( ligands ) can diffuse through the plasma membrane and bind to internal receptors.

How can a signaling molecule cause different responses in different cells?

In many cases, the same signal molecule binds to identical receptor proteins yet produces very different responses in different types of target cells, reflecting differences in the internal machinery to which the receptors are coupled (Figure 15-9).

What determines whether a cell will respond to a specific signaling molecule?

A cell is a target cell if it has a receptor protein that recognizes the signal molecule. b. A signal molecule binds to surface-membrane receptors if it is large, hydrophilic, or cannot readily cross the plasma membrane.

What can interfere with cell signaling?

Some examples of disrupted cell signalling in disease include: Cancer cells have constant activation of signalling pathways instructing the cells to grow and divide. This often occurs because of changes (mutations) in receptors, protein kinases or transcription factors that keep the proteins an active state.

What helps with cell to cell signaling?

Receptors play a key role in cell signaling as they are able to detect chemical signals or physical stimuli. Receptors are generally proteins located on the cell surface or within the interior of the cell such as the cytoplasm, organelles, and nucleus.

Leave a Comment