Biological Factors Affecting Biological Organisms

1229 Words5 Pages

Cell signalling is the communication between cells and between the cell and their environment. This connection is needed in order for them to function. For example cell signalling controls specialised cell functions such as contraction of muscle cells for movement. Development of cells from stem cells into specialised requires cell signalling to complete differentiation into leukocytes, erythrocytes, muscle cells etc. However defects in cell signalling in development it can lead to birth defects. Lastly another function of cell signalling is response to environmental stimuli. An exemplar of this is the physiological response of sweating in flight or fight situation which requires cell to communicate with neurotransmitters and adrenaline to start the response. Within cell signalling it involves many processes, some of which crosstalk. Allowing pathways to interact forming networks and create signalling pathway. Substances like adrenaline, insulin, neurotransmitter acetylcholine …show more content…

These are intracellular signalling molecules that amplify the signal throughout the cell using signal induction pathways. [9]
Diacylgycerol (DAG) is a second messenger its production is activated by enzyme phospholipase, which is a protein in the membrane of the cell. The production of DAG is a result of neurotransmitters like GABA binding to G protein receptors which activates phospholipase forming second messengers DAG and inositol-1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3). The IP3 activates Ca2+ which is another second messenger. DAG and Ca2+ together activate the production of protein kinase C to phosphorylate other proteins in cell this results in growth and differentiation in the cell. Second messengers may be involved in more than one signalling pathway. [10]
Below figure 1B shows a pathway for second messengers DAG, IP3 and Ca2+. Figure 1B [11]

More about Biological Factors Affecting Biological Organisms

Open Document