signal transduction pathway
/ˈsɪɡ.nəl ˌtræns.dʌkˈʃən ˈpæθ.weɪ/ · sig·nal trans·duc·tion path·way
noun
- A series of molecular interactions and biochemical reactions by which a cell converts an external signal into a specific intracellular response. Binding of epidermal growth factor to its receptor triggers a signal transduction pathway that drives cell proliferation.
Synonyms
Did you know? The term gained prominence after the discovery of the MAP kinase cascade in the 1980s, a landmark example of a signal transduction pathway that earned several Nobel Prizes.