What external molecule often initiates the differentiation program by binding to a cell membrane receptor?
Answer
Ligand
A signaling molecule, often called a ligand, binds to a specific receptor protein embedded in the cell membrane, initiating a signal transduction pathway.
Related Questions
What is the process where a simple, unspecialized cell develops into a distinct, specialized cell type called?What fundamental process drives cellular differentiation across different cell types sharing the same DNA?At which initial step does the precise control of gene expression primarily occur?What specialized proteins interact directly with DNA sequences like enhancers or promoters to regulate gene activity?What external molecule often initiates the differentiation program by binding to a cell membrane receptor?What term describes heritable changes in gene expression that occur without altering the underlying DNA sequence?What is the typical consequence of heavy DNA methylation on targeted genes within a specialized cell lineage?What analogy is used in the text to describe how Transcription Factors select which gene sets will be expressed?According to the text, what is required to maintain the stability of a highly specialized differentiated state?What process involves a cell progressively narrowing the range of possible cell types it can become during development?