[Some principles in the organization of cellular signaling systems: is genome an instructor or a performer?].
The paper outlines current views of the structural organization and dynamics of signalling systems in the eukaryotic cell. A cell is considered to be a dynamic entity with signal systems induced and reversibly formed in a certain spatial order and within the definite sections of a cell. The spatial and temporal organizations of the signalling systems are their important characteristics. The signalling systems provide a spatial proximity of enzymes and their substrates, which is critical for their efficient interaction. The signalling pathways that involve protein-protein interactions may represent the systems with a rather low free diffusion and involve binding interactions with adapter complexes, cytoskeletal structures and subcellular membranes. As a result, the "canalization" of signals can take place along the specific "tunnels" from membranes to the nucleus or other cellular sites. The mechanism can greatly facilitate the efficiency and specificity of signal transduction. Signal transduction is a dynamic process that causes temporal and reversible formation of complexes localized in certain parts of a cell. The complexes are assembled in response to a signal. The review considers the following: a modular principle of the interaction of signal proteins; principles in the anchoring of the signal proteins close to their interaction partners; a principle of scaffolding which involves the assembly of interacting components in proximity to each other and in a certain spatial order, thus facilitating their interaction and enhancing the specificity, inducibility, and reversible character of the signal systems and their intracellular compartmentalization, formation of networks that ensure crosstalks of various signalling pathways. Notions of the signal systems involved in the intercellular interactions and of the role of signal transduction in cancer progression are also presented. The complexity of signal systems and that of their interactions with other cellular components and of the regulations of signalling are discussed. In conclusion, the role of a genome in the transmission and expression of hereditary information is considered. It is suggested that only the whole cell rather than its genome is a unit that transmits complete hereditary information.
Sverdlov
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D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D011506:Proteins