AI Article Synopsis

  • The effectiveness of cell signaling relies on how well signaling proteins interact at the plasma membrane, which can be influenced by structures like cytoskeletal barriers and microdomains.
  • Membrane features can cause clustering of receptors and proteins, affecting how signals are transmitted even in constantly changing environments.
  • The review discusses various experiments and simulations that demonstrate the complex relationship between protein clustering and cell signaling processes.

Article Abstract

Initiation and propagation of cell signaling depend on productive interactions among signaling proteins at the plasma membrane. These diffusion-limited interactions can be influenced by features of the membrane that introduce barriers, such as cytoskeletal corrals, or microdomains that transiently confine both transmembrane receptors and membrane-tethered peripheral proteins. Membrane topographical features can lead to clustering of receptors and other membrane components, even under very dynamic conditions. This review considers the experimental and mathematical evidence that protein clustering impacts cell signaling in complex ways. Simulation approaches used to consider these stochastic processes are discussed.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3822010PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10439-012-0599-zDOI Listing

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