INTRACELLULAR MESSENGER Meaning and
Definition
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An intracellular messenger, also known as a second messenger, is a signaling molecule that relays information within a cell, playing a critical role in cellular communication. It serves as an intermediary between the cell membrane receptors and the target proteins or enzymes within the cell, mediating the transmission of signals from a variety of extracellular stimuli.
Typically, when a specific ligand binds to a cell surface receptor, it triggers a cascade of events that lead to the production or release of intracellular messengers. These messengers then propagate the signal, transmitting it from the receptor to various effector molecules located within the cell. This signal amplification process enables a small extracellular stimulus to evoke a significant intracellular response.
A common example of an intracellular messenger is cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). When activated, receptors on the cell surface stimulate the production of cAMP by Adenylyl Cyclase. cAMP then diffuses through the cytoplasm, binding to and activating specific target proteins, such as Protein Kinase A (PKA) or Epac, which further propagate intracellular signals. This leads to numerous physiological responses, such as cell growth, metabolism, gene expression, neurotransmission, and hormone regulation.
Other examples of intracellular messengers include calcium ions (Ca2+), inositol triphosphate (IP3), diacylglycerol (DAG), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and nitric oxide (NO). Each of these messengers plays a unique role in modulating intracellular signaling pathways, regulating cellular processes, and maintaining cellular homeostasis.
Understanding the functions of intracellular messengers is crucial in elucidating the mechanisms of cellular signal transduction and can provide insights into the development of therapeutic interventions targeting
Common Misspellings for INTRACELLULAR MESSENGER
- untracellular messenger
- jntracellular messenger
- kntracellular messenger
- ontracellular messenger
- 9ntracellular messenger
- 8ntracellular messenger
- ibtracellular messenger
- imtracellular messenger
- ijtracellular messenger
- ihtracellular messenger
- inrracellular messenger
- infracellular messenger
- ingracellular messenger
- inyracellular messenger
- in6racellular messenger
- in5racellular messenger
- inteacellular messenger
- intdacellular messenger
- intfacellular messenger
- inttacellular messenger
Etymology of INTRACELLULAR MESSENGER
The word "intracellular" comes from the combination of the prefix "intra-" meaning "within" and the word "cellular" referring to "related to cells".
The term "messenger" comes from the Middle English word "messangere", derived from the Old French word "messager". It originally meant a person who carries messages or news. In the context of biology, a "messenger" refers to a substance or molecule that carries information within a biological system.
Therefore, the term "intracellular messenger" simply combines these two words to describe a substance or molecule that carries information within a cell.
