Water-soluble hormones bind to signals outside the cell while water-insoluble hormones bind to signals internal to the cell.
Why does it happen?
- Because water-soluble hormones cannot cross the plasma membrane.
- Because water-insoluble hormones are hyposoluble and can cross the plasma membrane.
Water-soluble hormones are important for the functioning of a cell. For this reason, they must bind to receptors external to the membrane, which send important signals for the cells to function. In contrast, water-insoluble hormones can be diluted in the fatty layers of the membrane, reaching the interior of the cell more easily.