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Related Concept Videos

Types of Signaling Molecules01:32

Types of Signaling Molecules

In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...
Types of Signaling Molecules01:32

Types of Signaling Molecules

In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers01:15

Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers

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...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death
08:26

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death

Published on: October 31, 2017

Fatty acid amide signaling molecules.

Cyrine Ezzili1, Katerina Otrubova, Dale L Boger

  • 1Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
|September 7, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Endogenous fatty acid amides are crucial signaling molecules. This summary highlights key studies defining their discovery and biological roles.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Endogenous fatty acid amides represent a class of lipid-based signaling molecules.
  • These compounds play diverse roles in physiological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize seminal research on the discovery of fatty acid amides.
  • To define the physiological and pathological roles of these endogenous signaling molecules.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of key studies.
  • Analysis of historical research data.

Main Results:

  • Identification and characterization of various fatty acid amides.
  • Elucidation of their involvement in neurotransmission, inflammation, and pain.

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Optimized Incorporation of Alkynyl Fatty Acid Analogs for the Detection of Fatty Acylated Proteins using Click Chemistry
07:27

Optimized Incorporation of Alkynyl Fatty Acid Analogs for the Detection of Fatty Acylated Proteins using Click Chemistry

Published on: April 9, 2021

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay
11:49

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

Published on: July 28, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death
08:26

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death

Published on: October 31, 2017

Optimized Incorporation of Alkynyl Fatty Acid Analogs for the Detection of Fatty Acylated Proteins using Click Chemistry
07:27

Optimized Incorporation of Alkynyl Fatty Acid Analogs for the Detection of Fatty Acylated Proteins using Click Chemistry

Published on: April 9, 2021

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay
11:49

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

Published on: July 28, 2014

Conclusions:

  • Fatty acid amides are vital endogenous modulators of cellular function.
  • Further research continues to uncover their complex signaling pathways.