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within the cell that ultimately change its behaviour. The nature of these intracellular
events differs according to the type of receptor. Also, the same chemical signal can
trigger different responses in different types of cell.
Cell surface receptors work in several ways when they are occupied. Some
receptors enter the cell still bound to the chemical signal. Others activate
membrane enzymes, which produce certain intracellular chemical mediators. Still
other receptors open membrane channels, allowing a flow of ions that causes either
a change in the electrical properties of the membrane or a change in the ion
concentration in the cytoplasm. This regulation of enzymes or membrane channels
produces changes in the concentration of intracellular signaling molecules, which
are often called second messengers (the first messenger being the extracellular
chemical signal bound to the receptor).
Two common intracellular signaling molecules are cyclic AMP and the calcium ion.
Cyclic AMP is a derivative of adenosine triphosphate, the ubiquitous energy-carrying
molecule of the cell. The intracellular concentrations of both cyclic AMP and calcium
ions are normally very low. The binding of an extracellular chemical signal to a cell
surface receptor stimulates an enzyme complex in the membrane to produce cyclic
AMP. This second messenger then diffuses into the cytoplasm and acts on
intracellular enzymes called kinases that modify the behaviour of the cell,
culminating in the activation of target genes that increase the synthesis of certain
proteins. The action of cyclic AMP is brief because it is rapidly degraded by specific
enzymes.
Occupancy of other surface receptors causes a transient opening of membrane
channels. This can allow calcium ions to enter the cytoplasm from the extracellular
space, where their concentration is higher. The action of calcium ions is also brief
because they are rapidly pumped out of the cell or bound to intracellular molecules,
lowering the cytoplasmic concentration to the state existing before stimulation.
Some extracellular chemical signals enter the cell intact, still bound to the receptor,
without generating a second messenger. In this mechanism, receptor occupancy
causes individual receptors within the cell membrane to aggregate spontaneously.
That portion of the membrane containing the aggregated receptors is then taken
into the cell, where it fuses with various membrane-bounded organelles in the
cytoplasm. In some instances the chemical signal is released within the organelles,
and in almost all instances the ingested membrane is rapidly returned to the cell
membrane along with the surface receptors.
organel, dan dalam hampir semua kasus membran tertelan dengan cepat kembali
ke membran sel bersama dengan reseptor permukaan.