title: The "cellular state": the way to regain specificity and diversity in hormone action.
abstract: In contrast with the high specificity achieved in the effects of hormones and growth factors by their interaction with a large number of membrane receptors, a loss of information seems to take place due to the small number of second messenger systems. To retain specificity one has to consider the cellular state as defined in a state machine by a pattern of activity. Different molecular mechanisms are considered as possible candidates to establish such states following the initial ligand-receptor interaction and the activation of one or several second messengers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lichtstein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atlan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface