{"id":3318,"date":"2016-11-16T17:00:54","date_gmt":"2016-11-16T17:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology1\/?post_type=chapter&p=3318"},"modified":"2024-04-26T22:25:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T22:25:23","slug":"outcome-signaling-molecules-and-cellular-receptors","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology1\/chapter\/outcome-signaling-molecules-and-cellular-receptors\/","title":{"raw":"Introduction to Signaling Molecules and Cellular Receptors","rendered":"Introduction to Signaling Molecules and Cellular Receptors"},"content":{"raw":"

Differentiate between different types of signals<\/h2>\r\nThere are two kinds of communication in the world of living cells. Communication between cells is called intercellular signaling<\/strong>, and communication within a cell is called intracellular signaling<\/strong>. An easy way to remember the distinction is by understanding the Latin origin of the prefixes: inter<\/em>- means \"between\" (for example, intersecting lines are those that cross each other) and intra<\/em>- means \"inside\" (like intravenous).\r\n\r\nChemical signals are released by signaling cells<\/strong> in the form of small, usually volatile or soluble molecules called ligands. A ligand<\/strong> is a molecule that binds another specific molecule, in some cases, delivering a signal in the process. Ligands can thus be thought of as signaling molecules. Ligands interact with proteins in target cells<\/strong>, which are cells that are affected by chemical signals; these proteins are also called receptors<\/strong>. Ligands and receptors exist in several varieties; however, a specific ligand will have a specific receptor that typically binds only that ligand.\r\n

What You\u2019ll Learn to Do<\/h2>\r\n