Cellular signaling pathways typically follow a series of steps:
Signal Reception: A ligand binds to its specific receptor on the cell surface or inside the cell. Signal Transduction: The receptor undergoes a conformational change, activating intracellular signaling molecules and second messengers. Signal Amplification: The signal is amplified through a cascade of enzymatic reactions, often involving kinases and phosphatases. Cellular Response: The amplified signal leads to a specific cellular response, such as gene expression, changes in cell metabolism, or alteration of cell shape. Signal Termination: The pathway is turned off to reset the system, ensuring the cell can respond to new signals.
