AP Bio Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Front

What are gap junctions?

Back

Cell junctions in animal cells that allow for direct communication between adjacent cells.

Front

What is the role of ion channels in cell signaling?

Back

Ion channels are located in the plasma membrane and act as gates that allow ions to enter or exit the cell, playing a crucial role in the nervous system.

Front

What type of macromolecule are receptor molecules?

Back

Proteins.

Front

What are local regulators in cell signaling?

Back

Chemical messages released by a secreting cell that travel a short distance through the extracellular fluid to cause a response in a target cell.

Front

What is the correct sequence of events in signal transduction?

Back

Reception, transduction, response.

Front

Define signal transduction.

Back

The process by which a cell responds to signals from its environment, involving reception, transduction, and response.

Front

What is a ligand?

Back

A molecule that binds to a receptor to initiate a cellular response.

Front

What is the function of GPCRs (G-Protein Coupled Receptors)?

Back

GPCRs are a large family of receptors that detect molecules outside the cell and activate internal signal transduction pathways.

Front

What is the difference between short-distance and long-distance signaling?

Back

Short-distance signaling involves local regulators that affect nearby cells, while long-distance signaling involves hormones that travel through the bloodstream to distant target cells.

Front

What is the role of second messengers in cell signaling?

Back

Second messengers are small molecules that relay signals received at receptors on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell.