Final answer:
Water-soluble hormones bind to receptors on the cell membrane surface and initiate a signaling cascade. Lipid-soluble hormones diffuse through the cell membrane and regulate specific genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water-soluble hormones bind to receptors located on the extracellular surface of the cell membrane. They do not directly affect the transcription of target genes, but instead initiate a signaling cascade carried out by a second messenger.
Lipid-soluble hormones, on the other hand, can diffuse through the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus. They regulate specific genes on the cell's DNA.
The final outcome of signaling by water-soluble hormones is the initiation of a signaling cascade that leads to various cellular responses, such as the production of proteins and enzymes and altered membrane permeability. The final outcome of signaling by lipid-soluble hormones is the regulation of specific genes, affecting the cell's long-term structure and function.