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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
adenylyl cyclase
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An enzyme that converts ATP to cyclic AMP in response to a signal.
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amplification
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The strengthening of stimulus energy during transduction.
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apoptosis
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A program of controlled cell suicide, which is brought about by signals that trigger the activation of a cascade of suicide proteins in the cell destined to die.
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biofilm
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A surface-coating colony of one or more species of prokaryotes that engage in metabolic cooperation.
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cyclic AMP (cAMP)
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Cyclic adenosine monophosphate, a ring-shaped molecule made from ATP that is a common intracellular signaling molecule (second messenger) in eurkaryotic cells. It is also a regulator of some bacterial operons.
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diacylglycerol (DAG)
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A second messenger produced by the cleavage of a certain kind of phospholipid in the plasma membrane.
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epinephrine
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A catecholamine that, when secreted as a hormone by the adrenal medulla, mediates “fight-or-flight” responses to short-term stresses; also released by some neurons as a neurotransmitter; also known as adrenaline.
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G protein
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A GTP-binding protein that relays signals from a plasma membrane signal receptor, known as a G protein-coupled receptor, to other signal transduction proteins inside the cell.
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glycogen
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An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.
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growth factor
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(1) A protein that must be present in the extracellular environment (culture medium or animal body) for the growth and normal development of certain types of cells. (2) A local regulator that acts on nearby cells to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation.
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inositol trisphosphate (IP3)
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A second messenger that functions as an intermediate between certain nonsteroid hormones and a third messenger, a rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration.
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ligand
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A molecule that binds specifically to another molecule, usually a larger one.
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ligand-gated ion channel
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A protein pore in cellular membranes that opens or closes in response to A signaling chemical (its ligand), allowing or blocking the flow of specific ions.
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local regulator
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A secreted molecule that influences cells near where it is secreted.
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nitric oxide (NO)
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A gas produced by many types of cells that functions as a local regulator and as a neurotransmitter.
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protein kinase
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An enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from ATP to a protein, thus phosphorylating the protein.
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protein phosphatase
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An enzyme that removes phosphate groups from (dephosphorylates) proteins, often functioning to reverse the effect of a protein kinase.
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receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)
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A receptor protein in the plasma membrane, the cytoplasmic (intracellular) part of which can catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to a tyrosine on another protein. Receptor tyrosine kinases often respond to the binding of a signaling molecule by dimerizing and then phosphorylating a tyrosine on the cytoplasmic portion of the other receptor in the dimer. The phosphorylated tyrosines on the receptors then activate other signal transduction proteins within the cell.
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scaffolding protein
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A type of large relay protein to which several other relay proteins are simultaneously attached, increasing the efficiency of signal transduction.
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second messenger
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A small, nonprotein, water-soluble molecule or ion, such as a calcium ion (Ca2+) or cyclic AMP, that relays a signal to a cell’s interior in response to a signaling molecule bound by a signal receptor protein.
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signal transduction
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The linkage of a mechanical, chemical, or electromagnetic stimulus to a specific cellular response.
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signal transduction pathway
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A series of steps linking a mechanical or chemical stimulus to a specific cellular response.
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testosterone
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A steroid hormone required for development of the male reproductive system, spermatogenesis, and male secondary sex characteristics; the major androgen in mammals.
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transcription factor
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A regulatory protein that binds to DNA and affects transcription of specific genes.
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transduction
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(1) A type of horizontal gene transfer in which phages (viruses) carry bacterial DNA from one host cell to another. (2) In cellular communication, the conversion of a signal from outside the cell to a form that can bring about a specific cellular response.
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yeast
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Single-celled fungus that reproduces asexually by binary fission or by the pinching of small buds off a parent cell; some species exhibit cell fusion between different mating types.
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