Signal Transduction Pathways: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets

Dear Colleagues,

Signal transduction pathways are fundamental to how cells detect and respond to environmental signals, orchestrating essential biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis. These pathways are initiated by extracellular signals, such as hormones, growth factors, and cytokines, binding to specific cell surface or intracellular receptors, triggering intracellular cascades involving second messengers, kinases, phosphatases, and transcription factors. These cascades are finely regulated through feedback loops, scaffolding proteins, and post-translational modifications, ensuring signal specificity and dynamic control. Disruptions in these pathways are associated with a wide range of human diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disorders, and immune dysfunctions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction is therefore critical for elucidating disease pathogenesis and identifying viable targets for therapeutic intervention. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses both the structural and functional analysis of signaling networks, as well as their integration at the system level. Moreover, targeting aberrant signaling has emerged as a powerful therapeutic strategy, leading to the development of small-molecule inhibitors, antibodies, and novel modulators. This Special Issue welcomes comprehensive reviews, impactful communications, and original research articles that enhance our understanding of signal transduction pathways in health and disease, while advancing the discovery of novel molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Boratkó Anita
Guest Editor

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