title: Insulin signaling - mathematical modeling comes of age.
abstract: Signaling pathways that only a few years ago appeared simple and understandable, albeit far from complete, have evolved into very complex multi-layered networks of cellular control mechanisms, which in turn are integrated in a similarly complex whole-body level of control mechanisms. This complexity sets limits for classical biochemical reasoning, such that a correct and complete analysis of experimental data while taking the full complexity into account is not possible. In this Opinion we propose that mathematical modeling can be used as a tool in insulin signaling research, and we demonstrate how recent developments in modeling - and the integration of modeling in the experimental process - provide new possibilities to approach and decipher complex biological systems more efficiently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Linköping, SE58185 Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nyman
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cedersund
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strålfors
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011972:Receptor, Insulin