Signal transduction messengers

Excitation of smooth muscle via alpha-1 receptors (eg, in the utems, vascular smooth muscle) is accompanied by an increase in intraceUular-free calcium, possibly by stimulation of phosphoUpase C which accelerates the breakdown of polyphosphoinositides to form the second messengers inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 releases intracellular calcium, and DAG, by activation of protein kinase C, may also contribute to signal transduction. In addition, it is also thought that alpha-1 adrenergic receptors may be coupled to another second messenger, a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein that mediates the translocation of extracellular calcium. 

Depletion of ATP in the cells prevents maintenance of the membrane potential, inhibits the functioning of ion pumps, and attenuates cellular signal transduction (e.g., formation of second messengers such as inositol phos phates or cyclic AMP). A marked ATP depletion ultimately impairs the activ-itv of the cell and leads to ceil death. 

Seuwen K, Ludwig MG, Wolf RM (2006) Receptors for protons or lipid messengers or both J Recept Signal Transduct Res 26 599-610... 

As with signal transduction and second messenger systems, the mechanism of gene activation allows for amplification of the hormone s effect. 

Interference with signal transduction by reducing second-messenger synthesis through. 

The primary hormonal signals serve as extracellular signals that are interpreted by a signal transduction apparatus and turned into signals within the cell—these second messengers such as cAMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate warn individual enzymes within the cell about what s happening outside. 

The brain contains many other types of second-messenger-independent protein kinases. Examples of other second-messenger-independent protein kinases are listed in Table 23-1. Many of these include enzymes that were identified originally in association with a particular substrate protein but shown later to play a more widespread role in brain signal transduction. The functional role of one of these, [3-adrenergic receptor kinase (PARK), a type of G protein receptor kinase (GRK), is discussed further below. 

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