title: Compartmentalisation of second messenger signalling pathways.
abstract: The ability of a cell to transform an extracellular stimulus into a downstream event that directs specific physiological outcomes, requires the orchestrated, spatial and temporal response of many signalling proteins. The notion of compartmentalised signalling pathways was popularised in the 1980s by Brunton and colleagues, with their discovery that spatially segregated cAMP directs a variety of signalling responses in cardiomyocytes. It is now understood that compartmentalisation is a common mechanism used by all cells to ensure the interaction of signalling 'second messenger' molecules with localised 'pools' of appropriate effector proteins. In this way, the cell can elicit differential cellular responses by using a single, freely diffusible, molecular species. Recently, the compartmentalisation schemes employed by signalling systems involving cyclic nucleotides, calcium and nitric oxide have been elucidated and as a result, the varied range of functional consequences underpinned by such strategies can be better appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, CMVLS, Wolfson-Link Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Kristie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, CMVLS, Wolfson-Link Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Electronic address: George.Baillie@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Baillie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015290:Second Messenger Systems
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D002118:Calcium