Cell Signaling Quiz

Overview of Paracrine Factor Signaling Pathways

• Paracrine factors are morphogens or ligands that bind to receptors.
• Paracrine factors can activate a series of enzymatic reactions or regulate cytoskeleton, leading to TF activation or cell shape/migration responses.
• Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are involved in paracrine factor signaling.
• RTKs have extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic regions.
• Paracrine factors from the FGF family play a crucial role in signal transduction pathways.
• FGF-RTK pathways are involved in various biological processes, such as eye development, vulva formation, and cancer progression.
• Specific members of the FGF family have distinct functions, such as FGF1 in regeneration, FGF2 in blood vessel formation, FGF7 in skin development, and FGF8 in lens induction and limb development.
• FGF8 is secreted from the developing neural retina and induces the formation of the lens.
• RTK signal transduction pathway is widely used in various biological processes.
• Ligands of RTK pathways include FGF, EGF, IGF, and stem cells.
• Paracrine factors are produced and diffuse, then bind to their receptors.
• This binding leads to conformational changes in the receptor and activation of enzymatic activity (kinase), which can further activate TFs or cytoskeletal proteins.