Second Messenger Systems

Second messenger systems are intracellular signaling networks that relay and amplify information received at the cell surface, enabling cells to coordinate responses to hormones, neurotransmitters, and environmental cues. When an extracellular ligand activates a membrane receptor, the receptor stimulates enzymes or G proteins that generate small intracellular messengers such as cyclic AMP, inositol trisphosphate, diacylglycerol, or calcium ions; these signals then regulate protein kinases, ion channels, and gene expression. Their rapid, amplified responses help control metabolism, secretion, contraction, proliferation, and sensory processes. Studying second messenger systems clarifies how signaling defects contribute to disease and supports the development of targeted therapies.

Second Messenger Systems - Related Videos

Education

JoVE Core - Molecular Biology

What are Second Messengers?

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2021

Because many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic, they do not cross the cell membrane and thus their message must be relayed to a second messenger on the inside. There are several second messenger pathways, each with their own way of relaying information. G-protein coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol path is active when the receptor induces phospholipase C to hydrolyze the phospholipid,...

What are Second Messengers?

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2026

Because many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic, they do not cross the cell membrane and thus their message must be relayed to a second messenger on the inside. There are several second messenger pathways, each with their own way of relaying information. G-protein coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol path is active when the receptor induces phospholipase C to hydrolyze the phospholipid,...

Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers

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2023

Many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic; they do not cross the cell membrane but bind to cell-surface receptors. Thus, their message must be relayed by second messengers present in the cell cytoplasm. There are several second messenger pathways, each with its own way of relaying information. For example, the G protein-coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol pathway is active when the receptor induces...

Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action

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2024

Water-soluble hormones cannot cross the plasma membrane, so they rely on protein receptors that span the membrane to trigger intracellular signaling pathways. These pathways then activate second messengers inside the cell, including cAMP or calcium ions. Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...

Research

JoVE Journal - Biology

The Use of Chemostats in Microbial Systems Biology

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Cited by 67 •

2013

Cell growth rate is a regulated process and a primary determinant of cell physiology. Continuous culturing using chemostats enables extrinsic control of cell growth rate by nutrient limitation facilitating the study of molecular networks that control cell growth and how those networks evolve to optimize cell growth.

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