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Related Concept Videos

Cell Signaling Feedback Loops01:07

Cell Signaling Feedback Loops

Positive and negative feedback loops are crucial for regulating biological signaling systems. These feedback loops are processes that connect output signals to their inputs.
Negative feedback loops
Most signaling systems have negative feedback loops that can perform different functions such as output limiter, and adaptation.
Output limiter
Upon receiving an input signal, the cellular response rapidly increases until a threshold is reached. Beyond this threshold, a negative feedback loop...
Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses01:22

Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses

The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity. 
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Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Types of Signaling Molecules01:32

Types of Signaling Molecules

In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...
Types of Signaling Molecules01:32

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In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...

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A Microfluidics Approach for the Functional Investigation of Signaling Oscillations Governing Somitogenesis
08:06

A Microfluidics Approach for the Functional Investigation of Signaling Oscillations Governing Somitogenesis

Published on: March 19, 2021

Oscillatory control of signalling molecules.

Pawel Paszek1, Dean A Jackson, Michael Rh White

  • 1Centre for Cell Imaging, School of Biological Sciences, The Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. paszek@liverpool.ac.uk

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|September 21, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Cells use dynamic signaling control, like Nuclear Factor kappaB (NF-κB) oscillations, to interpret environmental cues and make fate decisions. This frequency-dependent information encoding ensures robust biological function across cellular organization levels.

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Systems Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Biological functions emerge from dynamic control of cellular signaling molecules.
  • Cells must decipher noisy environmental cues and encode signals for fate decisions and tissue information propagation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how oscillatory dynamics of signaling molecules contribute to robust regulation of biological functions.
  • To understand the role of frequency-dependent information encoding in cellular organization.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of signaling pathways, exemplified by the transcription factor Nuclear Factor kappaB (NF-κB).
  • Integration of systems biology, molecular biology, and cellular biology approaches.

Main Results:

  • Oscillatory control of signaling molecules plays a critical role in regulating biological functions.
  • Epigenetically regulated specificity for target genes enhances regulatory robustness.
  • Frequency-dependent information encoding is key to robust regulation at various cellular organization levels.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic, oscillatory signaling is fundamental for cellular information processing and decision-making.
  • NF-κB signaling dynamics illustrate a general principle of frequency-dependent biological regulation.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for deciphering cellular organization and function.