Question

How do signal transduction pathways benefit cells?

Answer 1

Signal transduction is the intracellular transfer of information in the form of biological activation or inhibition through a signal pathway. This process is necessary for the transfer of cells to carry out important processes or to increase or decrease the rate of ongoing processes.

Complete answer:
Signal transduction is the process in cell signaling where a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events. It is basically transferring a signal through a cell or an organism.
- Here, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule like a hormone or a neurotransmitter is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel.
- Signal transduction pathways are also known as cascades. The process starts with a protein known as the receptor receiving a physical, chemical, or electrical signal. This signal gets transferred to the messengers in the cell. As there are multiple molecules of the messenger, the signal gets amplified. The amplified signal affects other molecules and they in turn give the corresponding response.
- Signal transduction pathways are responsible for regulating molecular mechanisms of living beings, such as cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation, metabolism, immune responses, and different forms of cell communication.

Additional Information:
One signal can have multiple effects in the cell. There are also various interactions that occur between different pathways; they are known as cross talks.
- When a receptor protein receives a signal, it undergoes a chemical, post-translational, or conformational change.
- Some pathways do not involve primary or second messengers. In the signal transduction pathway of touch and vision, instead of creating a second messenger or processing a signal internally, the stimulation of the receptor protein causes an influx of ions into the cell, causing depolarization of the cell membrane.

Note:
Examples of signal transduction pathways are the MAP/ERK pathway, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases.
- Signal transduction is not to be confused with cell signaling, it is a part of cell signaling.