[Campbell Biology P.276] Epinephrine adrenaline stimulates different responses in different ... | Practice Question

Epinephrine adrenaline stimulates different responses in different cell types e.g., glycogen breakdown in liver cells vs. contraction in heart muscle cells . According to the text, what is the primary reason for this cell-specific response?

  • A: Different cell types have varying blood supplies, leading to different hormone concentrations.
  • B: The type of G protein-coupled receptor varies significantly between cell types.
  • C: Different cell types have different collections of signal receptor proteins, relay proteins, and proteins needed to carry out the response.
  • D: Epinephrine is chemically modified differently by enzymes present in various cell types.

Explanation

The text explains that the specificity of cellular responses to signals is due to different cell types having distinct collections of proteins, including signal receptor proteins, relay proteins, and proteins responsible for carrying out the response. These differences stem from different sets of genes being turned on in different cell types.