Question

What properties of the second messengers result in amplification and spread of intracellular signal?

Question options:

A)	They diffuse rapidly

B)	their quantity increases quickly

C)	Their concentration is normally low

D)	Their concentration is already high in the cell prior to the signal

Answer 1

ANSWER: A, B and C

EXPLANATION: Second messengers are signalling molecules that carry signals from first messengers to the inside of a cell i.e. the target. These second messengers are low in concentraton initially. But once it is activated by the first messengers, their quantity increases rapidly and thus the signal is amplified as well as transferred fast. They also diffuse rapidly from the source to the target. Common examples are : Calcium ion and cAMP.