Cell signaling and signal transduction is fundamental to biological processes, enabling cells to communicate and respond to their environment through complex molecular mechanisms.
- Cell communication signal transduction pathways convert external signals into internal cellular responses through three main stages: signal reception, signal transduction, and cellular response
- The process involves three major types of transmembrane receptors: G protein-coupled receptors mechanism, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ligand-gated ion channels
- Phosphorylation cascades in signal transduction play a crucial role in signal amplification and protein activation
- Both local and long-distance signaling methods exist, with hormones and electrical signals facilitating communication between distant cells
- Second messengers like cAMP and calcium ions help rapidly distribute signals throughout the cell
