Name: hormones travel to distant target cells
Uploaded: 2026-08-26T08:20:34.512Z
Duration: 1 min 52 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Florida Department of Education

High School

Life Science

SC.912.L.14

SC.912.L.14.30

Endocrine Signaling

Endocrine signaling happens when cells located in different organs need to communicate, such as when the pituitary gland communicates with the kidneys. During this process, hormones, the signaling ligands, travel through the bloodstream to reach their target cells.For example, the pituitary gland signals the kidneys to reabsorb water from urine. It does this by releasing the hormone arginine vasopressin, or AVP, into the blood.As blood is filtered in the kidneys, AVP binds to its G protein-coupled receptor, AVPR2, on target renal cells.Upon activation by the hormone, the G protein subunits detach from the receptor and activate adenylate cyclase to make the second messenger, cyclic AMP. Cyclic AMP activates an intracellular signaling cascade that involves protein kinase A, or PKA.PKA has two functions. First, it phosphorylates the aquaporin channel AQP2, which is held in reserve in cytoplasmic vesicles. This action brings the vesicles and channels to the cell membrane, allowing the flow of water back into the renal cells.Second, PKA phosphorylates the cAMP response element-binding protein, or CREB, in the nucleus. This causes CREB to bind to the regulatory elements of the aquaporin

endocrine signaling

Endocrine cells produce hormones to communicate with remote target cells found in other organs. The hormone reaches these distant areas using the circulatory system. This exposes the whole organism to the hormone but only those cells expressing hormone receptors or target cells are affected. Thus, endocrine signaling induces slow responses from its target cells but these effects also last longer.

There are two types of endocrine receptors: cell surface receptors and intracellular receptors. Cell surface receptors work similarly to other membrane bound receptors. Hormones, the ligand, bind to a hormone specific G-protein coupled receptor. This initiates conformational changes in the receptor, releasing a subunit of the G-protein. The protein activates second messengers which internalize the message by triggering signaling cascades and transcription factors.

Many hormones work through cell surface receptors, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, insulin, prostaglandins, prolactin, and growth hormones.

Steroid hormones, like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, transmit signals using intracellular receptors. These hormones are small hydrophobic molecules so they move directly past the outer cell membrane. Once inside, and if that cell is a target cell, the hormone binds to its receptor. Binding creates a conformational change in the receptor which activates its potential as a transcription factor. Once activated, the receptor or hormone-receptor complex promote or suppress gene expression.

The intracellular hormone receptors are a large superfamily of receptors but they all have a similar single polypeptide chain with three distinct domains. The N-terminus is the active transcription factor domain. The middle contains a DNA binding domain specific for the gene of interest. And the hormone binds to a domain at the C-terminus.

Endocrine cells produce hormones to communicate with remote target cells found in other organs. The hormone reaches these distant areas using the ...

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Education

JoVE Core

Biology

Cellular Processes

Cell Signaling

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

hormones travel to distant target cells

Endocrine signaling uses hormones to send messages to target cells in other organs. Endocrine cells release these hormones into the circulatory system, which carries the signal through the body. Because the hormone reaches the whole organism, only cells with the right receptors respond.

This kind of signaling usually acts slowly, but its effects last longer. Endocrine cells can use cell surface receptors or intracellular receptors, depending on the hormone. Cell surface receptors are membrane-bound receptors that work through a G-protein coupled receptor and second messengers.

In this pathway, the hormone binds to its specific receptor on the cell surface. That binding changes the receptor shape and releases a subunit of the G-protein. The G-protein then activates second messengers, which start signaling cascades and turn on transcription factors. Hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, insulin, prostaglandins, prolactin, and growth hormones use this route.

Steroid hormones use intracellular receptors instead. Testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are small hydrophobic molecules, so they can pass directly through the outer cell membrane. If the cell is a target cell, the hormone binds its receptor inside the cell. This binding changes the receptor and activates its role as a transcription factor.

Once activated, the receptor or hormone-receptor complex can promote or suppress gene expression. Intracellular hormone receptors form a large superfamily, but they share the same basic layout. They have an N-terminus with transcription factor activity, a middle DNA-binding domain, and a C-terminus where the hormone binds.

Hormones Travel to Distant Target Cells

what is cell signaling?

How Cells Send and Receive Signals

Cell signaling lets cells send and receive messages from the environment and from other cells. Even with a protective membrane, cells need to detect changes and respond to them. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use signaling to stay coordinated and to react to outside cues. Cells often rely on receptor proteins in the membrane to sense information. Skin cells can respond to touch, and photoreceptors in the retina can detect light. Most cells respond to chemical signals such as hormones,...

internal receptors

Steroid Hormones and Intracellular Receptors

Steroid hormones and other small signaling molecules can pass through the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors inside the cell. These receptors are also called internal receptors. Many hydrophilic signals cannot cross the plasma membrane, so this pathway is used by signals that are small or hydrophobic. Nitric oxide, or NO, also uses this type of signaling. When a ligand, which is a signaling molecule, binds to a receptor in the cytoplasm or nucleus, the receptor changes shape.

contact-dependent cell communication

Cell-to-Cell Signaling via Channels

Cell-to-cell signaling can happen when neighboring cells are in direct contact. In this kind of communication, cells use receptor-ligand interactions or special cytoplasmic channels to move small molecules between them. In animal cells, these channels are called gap junctions. They form when six proteins called connexins assemble into a cylindrical structure in the plasma membrane called a connexon. When connexons from two adjacent cells line up, a channel opens between the cells. Enzymes help...

autocrine signaling

Self-Signaling Cells in Immunity and Cancer

Autocrine signaling is a cell communication method in which a cell sends a signal to itself. The same cell releases an extracellular signaling molecule and also has receptors that can bind to that molecule. This lets the cell respond to its own message. In the immune system, this process is important for homeostasis, or keeping body conditions stable. A well-studied example is the macrophage, an immune cell that secretes cytokines such as interleukin-1, or IL-1. Macrophages also have membrane...

paracrine signaling

Local Cell Signaling in Blood and Healing

Local cell signaling helps cells communicate with nearby neighbors using released signaling molecules. These molecules act only over a short distance because they break down quickly or are inactivated if they are not taken up. This type of signaling supports processes such as nitric oxide signaling in blood vessels, neuron-to-neuron communication at synapses, blood clotting, tissue repair, and local allergic skin reactions. A clear example is nitric oxide signaling in blood vessels. The...

synaptic signaling

Chemical and Electrical Synapses

Neurons send signals across synapses, which are junctions between cells. These signals can excite or inhibit other neurons or target cells such as muscles. Most synapses are chemical. Some are electrical. Chemical synapses use action potentials, which are electrical impulses, to trigger the release of neurotransmitters. The sending neuron is the presynaptic neuron, and the receiving neuron is the postsynaptic neuron. An action potential travels along the axon and reaches the axon terminal,...

Endocrine signaling uses hormones to send messages to target cells in other organs. Endocrine cells release these hormones into the circulatory system, which carries the signal through the body. Because the hormone reaches the whole organism, only cells with the right receptors respond. This kind of signaling usually acts slowly, but its effects last longer. Endocrine cells can use cell surface receptors or intracellular receptors, depending on the hormone. Cell surface receptors are...

bacterial signaling

Quorum Sensing in Bacteria

Quorum sensing lets bacteria coordinate behavior by sensing how many cells are nearby. Bacteria can signal inside the cell or between cells. When many bacteria act together, they can behave like a community and change gene expression as a group. This signaling starts with autoinducers, or AIs. Individual bacteria make AIs and release them across the cell membrane into the surrounding space. Some AIs diffuse out passively along a concentration gradient, while others are moved out by active...

yeast signaling

Yeast Cell Communication in Mating

Yeast cell communication helps control mating, colony growth, and other cell responses. Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes with a nucleus. Their signaling works much like cell signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A signal often begins when a ligand, such as a protein or small molecule released from a yeast cell, binds to a receptor on the cell surface. This binding activates second-messenger kinases, which then switch transcription factors on or off.

g protein-coupled receptors

GPCR Signaling Through G Proteins

G-protein coupled receptors, or GPCRs, start cell signaling after a ligand binds to the receptor. The receptor is a single polypeptide that crosses the cell membrane seven times. These membrane loops create an outside pocket that fits a specific ligand, such as a neurotransmitter or hormone. The inside loops connect to a G-protein.

enzyme-linked receptors

Trk Receptors in Cell Signaling

Trk receptors are enzyme-linked receptors that help cells respond to growth factors and some hormones. They belong to the receptor tyrosine kinase, or RTK, family. These receptors can trigger several signals inside a cell after they are activated. Neurotrophin receptors are one RTK group and include TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC, which are tropomyosin-related kinase receptors. TrkA binds nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, and...

ion channels

Ion Channels in Cells and Membranes

Ion channels are membrane proteins that help cells move ions across the plasma membrane. Ions such as sodium, potassium, and calcium move into and out of cells to maintain the electrochemical gradient. This gradient supports cell size and volume, nerve signaling, and gas and nutrient exchange. Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins that let specific ions pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main job is to help keep the membrane potential, which is needed for cell...

what are second messengers?

Cell Signals That Use Second Messengers

Cell signals often use second messengers to carry messages inside the cell. Many receptor-binding ligands are hydrophilic, so they do not cross the cell membrane. Instead, the signal is relayed to an internal messenger that can spread the message farther. G-protein coupled receptors can activate the phosphoinositol pathway and the cyclic AMP, or cAMP, pathway. In the phosphoinositol pathway, the receptor activates phospholipase C. This enzyme hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol biphosphate, or...

intracellular signaling cascades

Cell-Surface Receptor Signal Cascades

Cell-surface receptor signal cascades move information from outside the cell into the cytoplasm. This process is called signal transduction. It happens only with cell-surface receptors, because they cannot interact with most cell parts, such as DNA. Internal receptors are different. They can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus and help start protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to a receptor, the receptor changes shape. That shape change affects the receptor’s intracellular domain or...

key terms and concepts

Learn how endocrine hormones travel through the blood, bind specific receptors, and trigger slow, lasting cell responses through membrane or intracellular pathways.

Hormones Travel to Distant Target Cells | JoVE K12

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D. Most multicellular organisms are composed of organ systems whose structures reflect their particular function.

Hormones Travel to Distant Target Cells

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