TRANSDUCER MECHANISM

Transducer Mechanism

• Most transmembrane signaling is accomplished by a small number of different molecular mechanisms (transducer mechanisms)

• Large number of receptors share these handful of transducer mechanisms to generate an integrated response

• Mainly 4 (four) major categories:1. G- protein coupled receptors2. Enzyme linked receptors3. Ligand-gated ion channel receptors4. Receptors regulating gene expression

1. G Protein–linked Receptors

http://wwwsp.uconn.edu/~bi107vc/images/anim/SigtranRA.gif

3. Ligand-gated Ion-Channel Receptors

4.Receptors regulating gene expression

Is also know as intracellular receptors.• Lipid soluble biological signals cross the

plasma membrane and act on intracellular receptors

• Receptors for corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids, thyroid hormones, sex hormones and Vit. D etc. stimulate the transcription of genes in the nucleus by binding with specific DNA sequence

Summary of Transducers