L2 - Principle of cell communication

BMS
How do cells communicate to allow them to operate as part of a higher system?

- Signals can be sent within the same cell

- autocrine signaling
- signalling exists between every compartment
- Signals can be sent from one cell to another
- can be unidirectional or bidirectional
- Signals can be sent from one cell to multiple cells
- via medium ( blood ) or via multiple contacts ( like synapse)

How do cells communicate?

- gap junction - cell - cell junctions between tightly opposed plasma membranes. Direct
connection between cells for small soluble signals. Allows communication without the need to
negotiate the plasma membrane

How do signals cross membranes ?

- Hydrophobic - lipid soluble

- free diffusion
- Hydrophilic
- pump/transporter
- ion channel
- vesicle fusion/fission (endo/exocytosis)
- indirect
- receptors and signalling pathways

Different type of signalling molecules

- protein/ peptide/AA/nucleotides/ steroids/ fatty acids/ ions/ gases

How are signals released

- vesicle fusion - exocytosis

- protein/peptides/AA/nucleotides
- Signals are packed into intracellular vesicles
- release is either constitutive or evoked
- Channels and transporters
- ions can be released in exchange for others
- either constitutively (passive flow down concentration gradient) or be evoked (channels
can be gated)

- Free diffusion
- steroids and gases can diffuse freely across the membrane
Different forms of signalling from secreted molecules

- Paracrine
- Released signals only affect cells in the immediate cellular environment
- Signal is usually terminated by either
- Uptake into neighbouring cells -Destruction by extracellular enzymes Sequestration by extracellular matrix

- Autocrine signalling
- The signal is released onto the same cell type
- a group of identical cells produces a higher concentration secreted signal than a single
cell can

- Synaptic signalling
- Neurones are specialised cells that can transmit information to separate parts of the body
- Activation at its dendrite triggers electrical impulses (action potentials) along the neuronal
axon

- When an impulse reaches the nerve terminals, it stimulates secretion of chemical

neurotransmitters.

- Nerve terminals closely oppose dendrites of other neurones at structures called

synapses

- Synaptic junctions mean that the signal is transmitted both Specifically and Quickly

- Arises from the physical location of the signalling site and the receptor.
- Because of this the diversity of chemical neurotransmitters is relatively small.

- Endocrine signalling
- endocrine cells secrete signals called hormones into the blood
- Only certain cells have the appropriate receptor to recognize specific hormones
- Arises from the combination of different signalling molecules being recognised by an
equally divergent array of receptors.

- Therefore a wide range of signals (and receptors) are required.

- Gaseous signalling
- released gases can bypass the plasma membrane and receptors and activate enzymes
directly inside the cell