The course objective is to understand how cells respond to environmental
signals and relay the signals from cellular membrane through cytoplasm to
nucleus. Membrane, cytoplasm or nuclear receptors accept signals and transmit
them by modulating downstream signaling pathways that lead to the activation
or inhibition of effectors, which in turn trigger specific cellular
responses. Any defects in the pathway may lead to the malfunction in cellular
responses. Therefore, it is important to understand each individual steps and
their links through the signaling for the proper cellular functions. We will
discuss the characteristics of receptor families and learn about their
signaling pathways and subsequent cellular responses. Furthermore, signaling
pathways can be independent or linked to form the complicated signaling
network.