It is long established that cells communicate by a variety of means and that the signaling is essential to health of the multi-cellular organism. By far the majority of experimental work in this area is carried out in vitro where huge confounders may prevent us fully understanding how this communication works in vivo.
Like some ancient human languages we can see that cell signaling mechanisms are a communication system but we may never understand their meaning. Any opinions and insights into how far away are we from getting even close would be appreciated.
Dr Turner -
Signaling in cells may now be construed as new in the area of cell biology. However, one would think that it is ancient. Signaling has evolved throughout evolution. An outstanding example is the aspect of nodulation genes involved in nitrogen fixation and the influence of flavonoids on this fascinating process. The role of flavonoids in root–rhizosphere signaling is an exciting area. According o Tony Swain, plant flavonoids might have existed in vascular plants for a billions years or more.
Certain flavonoid molecules elaborated by root nodules are picked up by bacteria. Nodules arise via signal exchange between plant roots and bacteria. In this symbiosis, Flavonoids function as chemoattractants in this symbiosis; they are inducers of nodulation (nod) and other genes. . Flavonoid synthesis and accumulation is often very specific for certain cell types. For instance, along the length of a root, flavonoids often accumulate at the root tip and in root cap cells.
Regards!
Dr. Turner,
Yes, we do understand the cell-signaling a lot more than we used to. There has been many Ca-signaling observations over the years waiting for data showing coordination among them to reach a common goal.
To this end my laboratory was deeply involved (during the 1980's) in exploring the mechanism of action and regulation of the gastric H, K-ATPase (Proton-pump), the ubiquitous Na, K-ATPase (Na-pump) and related Ca-pump. We discovered and purified to homogeneity two cytosolic activator (regulatory) proteins; a 80 k. Da HAF from parietal cells for H-pump, and a 170 k Da NaAF for the Na-pump, and characterized them sufficiently to confidently interpret our data. Our studies revealed that activation of the H-pump and Na-pump by corresponding activators are allosteric that are working under strict control of Ca-signaling to maintain cellular homeostasis.
Please go to my RG site to see the related published data, along with many interesting questions that I recently raised.
Thank you,
Tushar Ray
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