SignalingWege

Signalingwege, often translated as signal transduction pathways, are networks of cellular molecules that transmit information from the extracellular milieu to intracellular targets. They translate an external cue, such as a hormone, growth factor, or neurotransmitter, into a coordinated cellular response, influencing gene expression, metabolism, movement, or survival.

Basic architecture includes ligands, receptors, second messengers, and a cascade of proteins such as kinases and phosphatases. Receptors sense the signal at the plasma membrane or inside the cell; second messengers relay or amplify the signal; kinases modulate protein activity; transcription factors enact lasting changes in gene expression. Scaffold proteins organize the signaling network to improve efficiency and specificity.

Common signaling pathways include Ras/MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, Notch, Wnt, and TGF-β signaling, as well as NF-κB pathways. In addition to animal cells, plants and microorganisms possess analogous networks. Pathways can be linear or branched, with cross-talk and feedback loops that ensure appropriate strength, duration, and context of the response.

Dysregulation of Signalingwege is associated with numerous diseases, notably cancer, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions. Therapeutic approaches frequently target receptors or kinases within signaling pathways, using inhibitors or modulators to restore normal signaling dynamics.

Terminology: Signalingwege is the German-language term for signal transduction pathways and appears widely in German biology literature; in English texts the term is usually translated as signal transduction pathways. The concept remains central to understanding how cells interpret and respond to their environment.