What are the main classes of extracellular signaling molecules, and how do they differ in their ability to cross the plasma membrane?
The main classes are steroid hormones, gases, neurotransmitters, peptide hormones, growth factors, and eicosinoids. Steroid hormones and gases can diffuse through the plasma membrane, while peptide hormones, growth factors, and eicosinoids cannot and must bind to membrane receptors.