Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions
Published on: February 16, 2017
Unlocking the secrets of cell signaling
1The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT, United Kingdom. michael.berridge@bbsrc.ac.uk
Abstract:
My scientific life has been spent trying to understand how cells communicate with each other. This interest in cell signaling began with studies on the control of fluid secretion by an insect salivary gland, and the subsequent quest led to the discovery of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and its role in calcium signaling, which effectively divided my scientific career into two distinct parts. The first part was primarily experimental and culminated in the discovery of IP3, which set the agenda for the second half during which I have enjoyed exploring the many functions of this remarkably versatile signaling system. It has been particularly exciting to find out how this IP3/Ca2+ signaling pathway has been adapted to control processes as diverse as fertilization, proliferation, cell contraction, secretion, and information processing in neuronal cells.
More Related Videos
12:24Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy
Published on: September 29, 2016
09:18Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
Related Concept Videos
What is Cell Signaling?
What is Cell Signaling?
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
Cell-surface Signaling