Signaling nomenclature

SIGNALING NOMENCLATURE

The diagram below shows how the signaling terms are linked to the 'response to' terms, and what the main signaling terms encompass:

File:Signaling nomenclature.pdf

RESPONSE TO..

• Includes both the signaling pathway AND the downstream cellular process (e.g. transcription).
• Note that ligand are included in the response.

SIGNALING

• Begins with an active signal. Includes transport of the active signal from the signaling to the receiving cell AND signal transduction in the receiving cell.

SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

• Limited to events IN THE RECEIVING CELL. Begins with receptor-ligand interaction (E.g. binding) and ends with REGULATION of a downstream cellular process.
• Note that ligands are included in signal transduction. Ligands are signals and are not signal transducers.

SIGNALING PATHWAY

• Specific instances of signal transduction, named after the receptor or the ligand (or both).
• Specific transcription factors are INCLUDED in the signaling pathway because they REGULATE transcription.
• RNA polymerase and other basal transcription factors are NOT included in the signaling pathway because they are involved in transcription itself.

INTRACELLULAR SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

• Begins with a receptor signaling to downstream intracellular components.
• Includes signaling cascades

SIGNALING CASCADE

• A group of INTRACELLULAR signal transducers.
• Also called a signaling cassette/module.