title: Noise in cellular signaling pathways: causes and effects.
abstract: Noise caused by stochastic fluctuations in genetic circuits (transcription and translation) is now appreciated as a central aspect of cell function and phenotypic behavior. Noise has also been detected in signaling networks, but the origin of this noise and how it shapes cellular outcomes remain poorly understood. Here, we argue that noise in signaling networks results from the intrinsic promiscuity of protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and that this noise has shaped cellular signal transduction. Features promoted by the presence of this molecular signaling noise include multimerization and clustering of signaling components, pleiotropic effects of gross changes in protein concentration, and a probabilistic rather than a linear view of signal propagation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Unit 1000, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jeladbury@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ladbury
authors.forename: Stefan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Arold
mesh_terms: D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins