Cell communication

Premedical biology

The plasma membrane

fluid mosaics of lipids and proteins - consists a
double layer of phospholipids and other lipids,
proteins

controls traffic into and out of the cell it

surrounds

selective permeability - allows sufficient passage

of oxygen a nutrients, elimination of wastes

membrane
phospholipids are
amphipatic molecule

proteins are embeded or

attached to surface

The fluidity

- drift in the plane of the membrane

- switch from one phospholipid layer to the

other
- protein move slowly

- unsaturated hydrocarbons remain fluid

- cholesterol (animal cells) reduces membrane
fluidity; helps stabilize the membrane

Proteins
determine most of the membranes specific functions
Integral proteins transmembrane proteins

Peripheral proteins are not embeded in the lipid bilayer

Intracellular junctions
Cell walls perforated with channels called plasmodesma
In animals are intracellular junctions.

Tight junction

Desmosomes
Gap junctions

Adhere, interact
and communicate

Carbohydrates
Cell-cell recognition sorting cell into tissues and organs
in embryo

- rejection of foreign cells by the immune system

- usually short branched oligosaccharides
- covalently bonded

to proteins

Cell surfaces
Plant cells (some protist, prokaryotes, fungi) encased
by cell walls

the extracellular matrix - ECM

Glycoproteins :

Colagen fibers embedded in network of proteoglycans

fibronectins bind to receptor
protein called integrins are built
into plasma membrane
and bind to microflaments
on cytoplasmatic side

Cell communication
Cell respond to external signals
A signaling molecule binds to a receptor
protein, causing to change shape

transduction: cascades of molecular

interactions
Response: signaling lleads to regulation of
transcription or cytoplasmatic activities
signal transduction pathways

Signal transduction pathways

Cell communication
Direct contact between membrane-bound cell-surface
molecules cell junctions
- cell-cell recognition
Embryo development, immune response

Local regulators - paracrine signaling

Synaptic signaling - animal nervous system

Long distance signaling chemicals called
hormones

Local and long-distance signaling

Cell signaling
1. Reception: target cells detection of a
signaling molecule coming from outside
2. Transduction: change of the receptor protein
initiating process of cellular response
3. Response: cellular activity: catalysis,

rearrangement of the cytoskeleton, activation

of genes

Reception
Signaling molecule - ligand

Change of shape activation and ability to transfer

of signal

G protein coupled receptors / inhibitory or activity

Receptor tyrosine kinases enzymatic activity,
catalyse transfer of phosphate groups
Ion channel receptors gate open or close

Intracellular receptors for steroid and thyroid

hormones, nitric oxide

Transduction
Multistep pathway of activation of proteins by

addition or removal of phosphate groups or other

small molecules or ions that act as messegers
greatly amplifying a signal
Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins
system acts as a molecular switch
Protein kinase / transfer phosphate groups from ATP
to protein

A phosphorylation cascade

Small moleculer and ions as

second messengers
Nonprotein molecule, can readily spread by
diffusion cAMP and
calcium ions
Protein are sensitive to
the cytosolic concentration
of one or other

Calcium ions and Inositol Triphosphate

Neurotransmitters, growth factors, hormones induce
cells responses via signal transduction pathways
that increase the concentration of calcium ions
Muscle contraction, secretion of substances, cell
division
Second messengers: inositol triphosphate and
diacylgylcerol

Response
Regulation of transcrption or cytoplasmic activities
The end of pathway may occur in the nucleus
or in the cytoplasm

Regulation of synthesis / a transcription factors

Regulate the activity or synthesis

Nuclear
response to
a signal

Cytoplasmic
response to a
signal

Multiple steps of signal transduction

amplify the signal, in each step the number of
activated products is much greater
provide different points at which response can

be regulated
Specifity of cell signaling and coordination

Thank you for your attention

Campbell, Neil A., Reece, Jane B., Cain Michael L.,
Jackson, Robert B., Minorsky, Peter V., Biology, BenjaminCummings Publishing Company, 1996 2010.