Second messenger
Second messenger system
The second messenger system is a method of cellular signal transduction. This process involves the transmission of a signal from the cell's exterior to its interior, causing a physiological response. The signal, or first messenger, binds to a receptor on the cell membrane, triggering the production of an intracellular molecule, or second messenger. The second messenger then initiates a series of intracellular events.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The second messenger model was proposed by Earl W. Sutherland Jr. in 1956. He discovered that adrenaline, a hormone, did not directly stimulate the conversion of glycogen to glucose. Instead, it initiated a complex series of reactions inside the cell. This discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1971.
Types of second messengers[edit | edit source]
There are several types of second messengers, including cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), inositol trisphosphate (IP3), diacylglycerol (DAG), and calcium ions (Ca2+).
cAMP[edit | edit source]
cAMP is a derivative of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is synthesized by the enzyme adenylyl cyclase when the hormone epinephrine binds to a G protein-coupled receptor on the cell membrane.
cGMP[edit | edit source]
cGMP is a derivative of guanosine triphosphate (GTP). It is synthesized by the enzyme guanylyl cyclase when the hormone atrial natriuretic peptide binds to a receptor on the cell membrane.
IP3 and DAG[edit | edit source]
IP3 and DAG are derived from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). They are synthesized by the enzyme phospholipase C when the hormone vasopressin binds to a G protein-coupled receptor on the cell membrane.
Ca2+[edit | edit source]
Ca2+ is a universal second messenger. It is released from intracellular stores in response to a variety of signals, including IP3.
Function[edit | edit source]
Second messengers relay the signal from the cell membrane to the interior of the cell, where they initiate a series of intracellular events. These events may include changes in gene expression, cell growth, and cell death.
See also[edit | edit source]
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