Signal Transduction

Signal transduction is the core biological mechanism by which cells sense changes in the extracellular microenvironment and transmit information to intracellular effectors, determining cell fate selection and functional responses. This precise network encompasses the complete chain from ligand-receptor binding and intracellular signal cascade amplification to intranuclear gene transcription regulation, involving various dynamic regulatory modes such as phosphorylation modification, protein interactions, and degradation. Aberrations in the signal transduction network are closely associated with diseases such as tumors, immunodeficiency, and developmental disorders, making it a core field in life science research and drug development. This section covers four major classes of key molecules: transcription factors, signal adaptor proteins, cyclins, and apoptosis-related proteins.