vækstsignalvej

A vækstsignalvej, or growth factor signaling pathway, is a series of molecular events that occurs within a cell in response to the binding of a growth factor to its receptor. These pathways are crucial for regulating fundamental cellular processes such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and survival.

The process typically begins when a growth factor, a signaling molecule, binds to a specific receptor protein on the cell surface. This binding event often causes a conformational change in the receptor, leading to its activation. Activated receptors then recruit and activate intracellular signaling molecules, which in turn activate a cascade of downstream effectors. This cascade can involve a series of protein phosphorylations, where phosphate groups are added to proteins, or other modifications that propagate the signal.

Ultimately, the signal transduction pathway culminates in changes in gene expression or protein activity within the cell. These changes dictate the cell's response, whether it's to divide, specialize into a particular cell type, or resist programmed cell death. Many growth factor signaling pathways are tightly regulated to prevent uncontrolled cell growth, which can lead to diseases like cancer. Dysregulation of these pathways is a common hallmark of many cancers, making them important targets for therapeutic interventions. Examples of well-studied vækstsignalveje include the Ras/MAPK pathway and the PI3K/Akt pathway.