Cell Communication

Chapter 6
Dr. Mohamad Hajj-Hassan

mohamad.hajjhassan@liu.edu.lb
 Cell Communication
• To maintain homeostasis, the cells of a multicellular
organism must continuously communicate with one
another.
• Many different mechanisms for transmitting
information between cells, tissues, and organs have
evolved, including electrical signaling and many types
of chemical signaling.
• Organisms also communicate with other members of
their species by secreting chemical signals. For
example, bacteria release chemical signals that
diffuse among nearby bacteria. As the population of
bacteria increases, the concentration of the chemical
signal increases.
 Cell Signaling
• Cell signalling is part of a complex system of
communication that governs basic cellular activities
and coordinates cell actions.
• 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. By understanding cell
signalling, diseases may be treated effectively
 Learning Objective 1

• What sequence of events takes place in

cell signaling?
 Cell Signaling

1. Synthesis, release, transport of

signaling molecules
- neurotransmitters, hormones, etc
- ligand binds to a specific receptor
 Ligand: An ion, a molecule, or a molecular
group that binds to another chemical
entity to form a larger complex.
2. Reception of information by target
cells
 Cell Signaling

3. Signal transduction
- receptor converts extracellular signal into
intracellular signal
- causes change in the cell
4. Response by the cell
• Example: insulin stimulates cells to take up glucose from the
blood. This response lowers the concentration of glucose in the
blood.
1 Cell sends
signal
Cell Signaling
Signaling
molecules
Receptor
Receptors are large proteins
2 Reception or glycoproteins that bind with
signaling molecules.
Signaling
Molecule A
Signaling
Molecule B

3 Signal Signaling
transduction Molecule C

Protein Enzyme Protein that

regulates a gene

4 Response Altered Altered Altered

membrane metabolism gene activity
permeability Fig. 6-2, p. 136
 KEY CONCEPTS

• Cells signal one another using chemical

compounds such as neurotransmitters,
hormones, and other regulatory
molecules
 Learning Objective 2

• Describe three types of signaling

molecules:
• local regulators
• neurotransmitters
• hormones
 Local Regulators
• Paracrine regulation
• diffuse through interstitial fluid
• act on nearby cells
• Local regulators
Local Signals
 Neurotransmitters
• Chemical signals
• released by neurons (nerve cells)
(c) Neurons transmit signals across synapses.

Receptor
Signaling
molecules
Target
neuron
Signaling
neuron

Fig. 6-3c, p. 137

 Hormones
• Chemical messengers
• in plants and animals
• Secreted by endocrine glands
• in animals
• Transported by blood
• to target cells
Hormones