CELL TO CELL SIGNALLING - HOW CELL COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN LIFE

13 PAGES (2186 WORDS) Physiology Paper





Cell to cell signaling

refers to the transfer of information from one cell to another. This is also

called cell signaling or intercellular communicati
on. The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond

to their microenvironment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and

immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in cellular information

processing are responsible for diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity, and

diabetes.
The cells of the body communicate with each other through some

chemical substances called chemical

messengers.
These chemical
messengers are extracellular

signaling molecules e.g., hormones and neurotransmitters. C
ells signals by releasing these molecules that bind to

receptor proteins located in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, or nucleus.

This signal is transduced into the activation, or inactivation, of one or more

intercellular messengers by interacting with receptors. Receptors interact with

a variety of intracellular signaling proteins, including kinases,

phosphatases,
and GTP-binding proteins (G proteins). These signaling

proteins interact with and regulate the activity of target proteins and thereby

modulate cellular function.