Question

The same second messengers are used in many different cells, but the response to second messengers is different in each cell. How is this possible?

a) Different second messengers are produced in each cell
b) Cells have different types of receptors for the same second messenger
c) Second messengers are inactivated after binding to receptors
d) Second messengers have cell-specific chemical modifications

Answer 1

The different response to second messengers in each cell is possible due to the presence of different types of receptors for the same second messenger in cells. Cells produce variants of a particular receptor for a particular ligand through alternative splicing, resulting in different responses in each cell. Additionally, different cell types may contain different genes, which produce different receptors that bind to the same ligand, activating different responses in each cell.

Step-by-step explanation:

The different response to second messengers in each cell is possible due to the presence of different types of receptors for the same second messenger in cells.

Cells produce variants of a particular receptor for a particular ligand through alternative splicing, resulting in different responses in each cell.

Additionally, different cell types may contain different genes, which produce different receptors that bind to the same ligand, activating different responses in each cell.