title: Tripping the switch fantastic: how a protein kinase cascade can convert graded inputs into switch-like outputs.
abstract: Recent experimental work has shown that the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade can convert graded inputs into switch-like outputs. The cascade could therefore filter out noise (signals of insufficient magnitude or duration) and still respond decisively to supra-threshold stimuli. Here, we explore the biochemical mechanisms likely to be at the root of this behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5332, USA. ferrell@cmgm.stanford.edu
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases