Signalschemical

Signalschemical is a proposed term used to describe chemical species that function as information-carrying signals in biological, ecological, and engineered systems. The concept groups traditional chemosignals—such as pheromones, neurotransmitters, and quorum-sensing molecules—and novel engineered compounds under a single umbrella: signals that trigger specific responses upon detection by receptors or signaling networks.

Definition and scope: A signalschemical is any chemical that modulates a signaling pathway, receptor activity, or gene expression in target cells or materials. They can be produced endogenously by organisms or introduced by researchers and can act locally or systemically. Potency is variable, often at low concentrations, with selectivity to particular receptors or receptor subtypes.

Mechanisms: Signalschemicals act through receptor binding, ion channel modulation, enzyme activity changes, or second messenger cascades, leading to transcriptional or physiological responses. In synthetic contexts, they can be designed to elicit predefined states in responsive materials or devices.

Applications: In biology, for studying communication networks and development; in biotechnology, for controlled expression or cell-fate decisions; in materials science, for smart sensors and adaptive systems; in ecology, as models of environmental signaling.

Status: The term is not universally standardized and coexists with established terms like chemosignal, infochemical, and ligand. It is more common in speculative or cross-disciplinary literature that aims to emphasize the information content of chemical signals.

See also: chemosignal, infochemical, ligand, quorum sensing, signal transduction, smart materials.