[Signal transmission using second messengers]
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Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators
Published on: March 22, 2019
1Centre d'études nucléaires de Grenoble, biophysique moléculaire et cellulaire, France.
Abstract:
Intercellular communication needs signal molecules (hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors) emitted by a cell and recognized by targets. A widespread mechanism of cellular action of these molecules involves a membrane receptor, a GTP-dependent coupling protein, an effector which modulates the intracellular concentration of a second messenger (cAMP, cGMP, inositol triphosphate, Ca++), and a target for final effect of this second messenger (kinases, channel). Hormonal systems and visual processes in vertebrates rod outer segments are the best known examples of this mechanism; they are taken here to illustrate the state of knowledge of the interactions between the actors of the transductional enzymatic cascades.
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