CHAPTER 9

CELL COMMUNICATION

Mark Brian P. Flores

BSED-SCIENCE2A
CHAPTER 9
 CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION

9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS
9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS
9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION

9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS

9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION

9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS

9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION

9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS

9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION

9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS

9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 INTRODUCTION
As with people, it is vital for individual cells to be able to interact
with their environment and with each other. In order to properly respond
to external stimuli, cells have developed complex mechanisms of
communication so that they can receive a message, transfer the
information across the plasma membrane, and then produce changes
within the cell in response to the message.
INTRODUCTION

In multicellular organisms, cells constantly send and receive chemical

messages to coordinate the actions of other organs, tissues, and cells.
The ability to send messages quickly and efficiently enables cells to
coordinate and fine-tune their functions. While the necessity for cellular
communication in larger organisms seems obvious, even single-celled
organisms communicate with each other.
INTRODUCTION
Some forms of bacteria coordinate their actions in order to form
large complexes called biofilms or to organize the production of toxins
to remove competing organisms. The ability of cells to communicate
through chemical signals originated in single cells and was essential for
the evolution of multicellular organisms. Efficient, error-free
communication is vital for all life.
Objectives
Describe four types of signaling found in
multicellular organisms.

Compare internal receptors with cell-

surface receptors.

Recognize the relationship between a

ligand’s chemistry and its mechanism of
action.
 CHAPTER 9
9.1 SIGNALING MOLECULES
& CELLULAR RECEPTORS
INTRODUCTION

9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND There are two kinds of communication in the
CELLULAR world of living cells.
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF Communication between cells is called

SIGNALING
intercellular signaling.
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS
Communication within a cell is called
9.1.3 SIGNALING intracellular signaling.
MOLECULES
 CHAPTER 9
9.1 SIGNALING MOLECULES
& CELLULAR RECEPTORS
INTRODUCTION
Chemical signals:
9.1 SIGNALING Released by a signaling cell
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
Received by a target cell
RECEPTORS
Receptors - which bind to signaling molecules
9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING and cause a response.
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS Ligands - signaling molecules that bind to
9.1.3 SIGNALING
receptors.
MOLECULES
*Ligands and receptors are specific for each other; a receptor will
typically bind only to its specific ligand.
9.1.1 FORMS OF SIGNALING
 Paracrine Signaling

Signals that act locally between cells that are close together
are called paracrine signals. Paracrine signals move by
diffusion through the extracellular matrix.

These types of signals usually elicit quick responses that last

only a short amount of time. In order to keep the response
localized, paracrine ligands are usually quickly degraded by
enzymes or removed by neighboring cells.
 Paracrine Signaling

One example of paracrine signaling is the

transfer of signals between nerve cells. The
tiny space between nerve cells where signal
transmission occurs is called a synapse.
When these impulses reach the end of one
nerve cell, chemical ligands called
neurotransmitters are released into the
synapse by the presynaptic cell (the cell
emitting the signal).
 Autocrine Signaling
When a cell responds to its own signaling molecule, it is called
autocrine signaling (auto = “self”).

Autocrine signaling often occurs with other types of signaling. For

example, when a paracrine signal is released, the signaling cell may
respond to the signal along with its neighbors

Autocrine signaling often occurs during early development of an

organism to ensure that cells develop into the correct tissues.
 Endocrine Signaling

Signals from distant cells are called endocrine signals, and they
originate from endocrine cells.

The ligands released in endocrine signaling are called

hormones, signaling molecules that are produced in one part of
the body but affect other body regions some distance away
 Endocrine Signaling

Hormones travel the large distances between

endocrine cells and their target cells via the
bloodstream, which is a relatively slow way to move
throughout the body.
 Direct Signaling
Gap junctions in animals and plasmodesmata in plants are
connections between the plasma membranes of neighboring cells.
These water-filled channels allow small signaling molecules to
diffuse between the two cells.

Small molecules, such as calcium ions (Ca2+), are able to

move between cells, but large molecules like proteins and DNA
cannot fit through the channels. In plants, plasmodesmata are
ubiquitous, making the entire plant into a giant communication
network.
 CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION
9.1.2 Types of
Receptors
9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS
There are two types of receptors,
9.1.1 FORMS OF
SIGNALING
• Internal receptors
9.1.2 TYPES OF
RECEPTORS • Cell-surface receptors
9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 Internal receptors

Internal receptors, also known as intracellular or cytoplasmic

receptors, are found in the cytoplasm of target cells and respond
to hydrophobic ligand molecules that are able to travel across the
plasma membrane. Once inside the cell, many of these molecules
bind to proteins that act as regulators of mRNA synthesis
(transcription) to mediate gene expression.
 Internal receptors

When the ligand binds to the internal receptor, a conformational

change is triggered that exposes a DNA-binding site on the
receptor protein. The ligand-receptor complex moves into the
nucleus, then binds to specific regulatory regions of the
chromosomal DNA and promotes the initiation of transcription
Internal
receptors
 CHAPTER 9 Cell-Surface
INTRODUCTION Receptors
9.1 SIGNALING Cell-surface receptors, also known as
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR transmembrane receptors, are integral
RECEPTORS proteins that bind to external signaling
9.1.1 FORMS OF molecules. These receptors span the
SIGNALING plasma membrane and perform signal
9.1.2 TYPES OF transduction, in which an extracellular
RECEPTORS signal is converted into an intercellular
9.1.3 SIGNALING signal.
MOLECULES
Cell-Surface Receptors
 CHAPTER 9 Cell-Surface
INTRODUCTION Receptors
9.1 SIGNALING Each cell-surface receptor has three main
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR components:
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF 1. External ligand-binding domain, or

SIGNALING extracellular domain
9.1.2 TYPES OF 2. Hydrophobic membrane-spanning
RECEPTORS region
9.1.3 SIGNALING 3. Intracellular domain
MOLECULES
 CHAPTER 9 Cell-Surface
INTRODUCTION Receptors
9.1 SIGNALING There are three general categories of cell-
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR surface receptors:
RECEPTORS

9.1.1 FORMS OF 1. Enzyme-linked receptors

SIGNALING 2. Ion channel-linked receptors
9.1.2 TYPES OF 3. G-protein-linked receptors
RECEPTORS

9.1.3 SIGNALING
MOLECULES
 CHAPTER 9 Enzyme-linked
INTRODUCTION receptors
9.1 SIGNALING Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR surface receptors with intracellular
RECEPTORS domains that are associated with an
9.1.1 FORMS OF enzyme. In some cases, the intracellular
SIGNALING domain of the receptor itself is an enzyme.
9.1.2 TYPES OF Other enzyme-linked receptors have a
RECEPTORS small intracellular domain that interacts
9.1.3 SIGNALING directly with an enzyme.
MOLECULES
Enzyme-linked
receptors
 Ion channel-linked receptors

Ion channel-linked receptors bind to a ligand and open a

channel through the membrane that allows specific ions to
pass through. This type of cell-surface receptor has an
extensive membrane-spanning region with hydrophobic amino
acids.
Ion channel-linked receptors
 G-protein-linked receptors

G-protein-linked receptors bind to a ligand and activate an

associated G-protein. The activated G- protein then interacts
with a nearby membrane protein, which may be an ion channel
or an enzyme. All G-protein-linked receptors have seven
transmembrane domains, but each receptor has a specific
extracellular domain and G-protein-binding site.
Figure 9.9 Transmitted primarily
through contaminated drinking water,
cholera is a major cause of death in
the developing world and in areas
where natural disasters interrupt the
availability of clean water. The
cholera bacterium, Vibrio cholerae,
creates a toxin that modifies G-
protein-mediated cell signaling
pathways in the intestines. Modern
sanitation eliminates the threat of
cholera outbreaks, such as the one
that swept through New York City in
1866.
 CHAPTER 9

INTRODUCTION
9.1.3 Signaling
Molecules
9.1 SIGNALING
MOLECULES AND
CELLULAR
RECEPTORS Produced by signaling cells,
9.1.1 FORMS OF
ligands are chemical signals that
SIGNALING travel to target cells and cause a
9.1.2 TYPES OF response. The types of molecules
RECEPTORS
that serve as ligands are incredibly
9.1.3 SIGNALING varied and range from small proteins
MOLECULES
to small ions.
Small Hydrophobic Ligands

Small hydrophobic ligands, also called lipid-soluble

ligands, can directly diffuse through the plasma membrane
and interact with internal receptors. Important members of
this class of ligands are the steroid hormones. Steroids are
lipids that have a hydrocarbon skeleton with four fused
rings; different steroids have different functional groups
attached to the carbon skeleton.
Small Hydrophobic Ligands

Figure 9.10 Steroid

hormones are similar in
structure to their
precursor, cholesterol.
Since they are small and
hydrophobic, they can
diffuse across plasma
membranes and interact
with internal receptors.
Water-Soluble Ligands

Since water-soluble ligands are polar, they cannot pass

through the plasma membrane unaided. Sometimes they
are too large to pass through the membrane at all. Instead,
most water- soluble ligands bind to the extracellular
domain of cell-surface receptors. This group of ligands is
quite diverse and includes small molecules, peptides, and
proteins.
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