Cell Signalling and Communication

What this unit covers

The resources follow how cells send, receive and act on messages. Many start with the basics: signalling molecules, receptor proteins on the cell membrane, and the endocrine, paracrine, autocrine and synaptic types of communication. Others move to the detail of signal transduction and the pathways inside the cell.

Where to start

Begin with the mind map Receptors & Cell Signalling. It sets out how signal transduction controls the way cells respond to stimuli. Then try the flashcards Cell signalling overview or Introduction Into Cell Signalling to fix the vocabulary.

Receptors and pathways

Once the overview feels familiar, work through the receptor families in this order:

1. G protein coupled receptors, using the mind map G protein coupled receptors, which notes they are the largest class of cell surface receptors and major therapeutic targets.
2. Enzyme-linked receptors, using the mind map Enzyme-Linked Receptors and then the quiz Enzyme LInked Receptors, which asks about receptor structure and tyrosine kinase.
3. Pathways and messengers, using Adenylyl Cyclase Pathway, Phospholipase C Pathway and Second Messengers: Calcium.

There are also resources on nitric oxide, P2X purinoreceptors, the TGF-beta superfamily and beta-adrenoreceptors in the heart, for when you want something more specific.

Using maps and quizzes together

Read a mind map first, then close it and take a quiz on the same topic. Questions you miss show which branch to revisit. Quizzes such as Calcium Signalling and Intracellular Signalling suit this approach. Flashcard decks like The 3 main types of membrane receptors are handy for short, repeated sessions. Teachers can pick a map or deck and set it as ready-made material for a class.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the Foundations of Physiology strand in Physiology. It links to membrane proteins and transport, covered in Membrane Proteins & Signalling. Choose one resource and give it a try today.