Second Messengers

Second Messengers

1. Second messengers are chemical signals that are not embedded in the membrane and can diffuse in the cell to pass on a message

   • They are intracellular molecules that change in concentration in response to environmental signals
     • The change in concentration provides the information for the cell

2. Multistep receptors can use common second messengers, allowing for fine-tuned regulation of cellular activity

   • Multistep -> amplification

3. Second messengers are free to move in the cell, unlike membrane-bound receptors

4. Common second messengers can create different responses because of other elements of specificity, cell signalling and coordination of response

   • Different kinds of cells have different collections of proteins, which allow cells to detect and respond to different signals
     • The same signal can have different effects in cells with different proteins and pathways
   • Pathway branching and 'cross-talk' further help the cell coordinate incoming signals

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