title: Signals and Receptors.
abstract: Communication between cells in a multicellular organism occurs by the production of ligands (proteins, peptides, fatty acids, steroids, gases, and other low-molecular-weight compounds) that are either secreted by cells or presented on their surface, and act on receptors on, or in, other target cells. Such signals control cell growth, migration, survival, and differentiation. Signaling receptors can be single-span plasma membrane receptors associated with tyrosine or serine/threonine kinase activities, proteins with seven transmembrane domains, or intracellular receptors. Ligand-activated receptors convey signals into the cell by activating signaling pathways that ultimately affect cytosolic machineries or nuclear transcriptional programs or by directly translocating to the nucleus to regulate transcription.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carl-Henrik
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Heldin
authors.affiliation: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Gene Expression Laboratory, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: Benson
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Gene Expression Laboratory, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4340.
authors.forename: J Silvio
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gutkind
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002450:Cell Communication; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D000072417:Protein Domains; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor