Signal transduction plays a pivotal role in cell regulation. Hormones, cytokines and neurotransmitters bind to their specific receptors in the plasma membranes of cells. The receptors of many hormones are coupled to G-protein coupled signalling pathways. Insulin and growth factors are coupled to receptor-linked kinase. The second messenger is generated in cells once the first messenger binds to the receptors of plasma membranes. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP), inositol 1,3,5-triphosphate (IP3) and calcium ion (Ca2+) have been demonstrated to play a role as a second messenger in cells. The pivotal role of Ca2+ in cellular regulation was established with the finding of calmodulin and protein kinase C that modulates the effect of Ca2+ in the regulation of cellular functions. Many receptor classes and their downstream kinases activate Erk, Akt, Stat, Smad, NF-κB and other cascades to regulate gene expression and cellular function. This book provides recent research in the study of the new developments in signalling transduction in cells.
Masayoshi Yamaguchi, Ph.D., IOM, FAOE, DDG, DG, is Adjunct Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (2013 - ). Dr. Yamaguchi is engaged in the fields of endocrinology and cell signaling since 1971, and these researches are developed in the aspect of biochemistry, molecular biology, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition, pharmacology, and toxicology. Dr Yamaguchi has an interesting for cell signaling mechanism, bone biology, nutritional factor and osteoporosis prevention, diabetes and diabetic osteoporosis, cancer biology, and cancer cell bone metastasis. Dr. Yamaguchi discovered two novel proteins and genes; cell signaling suppressor protein (named regucalcin; 1978) and transcriptional factor RGPR-p117 (regucalcin gene promoter region-related protein; 2001). Dr Yamaguchi generated regucalcin transgenic rats, which were registered as international patents including USA, EU and Japan, and this animal was found to induce osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia. Moreover, Dr. Yamaguchi proposed the potential role of regucalcin as a key suppressor protein in carcinogenesis. Thus far, Dr Yamaguchi published over 550 English articles to professional journals with peer-review, and registered over 20 national and international patents.
