The process of signal transduction can be broken down into several steps:
1. Signal Reception: A ligand binds to its specific receptor, causing a conformational change in the receptor. 2. Signal Transduction: The activated receptor often triggers a cascade of biochemical events involving secondary messengers. This may include the activation of protein kinases and phosphatases, which add or remove phosphate groups from proteins. 3. Signal Amplification: One ligand-bound receptor can activate multiple secondary messengers, amplifying the signal within the cell. 4. Response: The signal reaches its target, leading to a specific cellular response, such as gene expression or cytoskeletal reorganization. 5. Termination: The signal transduction pathway is turned off to reset the system and prevent overactivation. This can involve the degradation of signaling molecules or dephosphorylation of proteins.
