Question

Which type of signaling is described by two receptors that look different from one another and that are located on adjacent cells, binding to one another and thus setting off a signaling cascade?

a. Paracrine signaling through heterophilic binding
b. Juxtacrine signaling through heterophilic binding
c. Paracrine signaling through homophilic binding
d. Juxtacrine signaling through homophilic binding

Answer 1

The signaling described is juxtacrine signaling through heterophilic binding, involving contact between different receptors on adjacent cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of signaling where two receptors that appear different from each other are located on adjacent cells and bind to one another, initiating a signaling cascade, is known as juxtacrine signaling through heterophilic binding. Unlike paracrine signaling, which involves signals moving by diffusion through the extracellular matrix to act on nearby cells, juxtacrine signaling involves direct contact between the signaling molecules and receptors on the surfaces of adjacent cells. Heterophilic binding indicates that the binding involves receptors and ligands that are not identical, as opposed to homophilic binding where identical molecules are involved.