Final answer:
Transduction in signal transduction refers to the process of converting an extracellular signal into an intracellular response. It involves a series of molecular events that transmit the signal from the cell surface to the interior of the cell. For example, the MAPK/ERK pathway is a well-known signal transduction pathway that regulates gene expression and protein translation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'transduction' in the context of signal transduction refers to the process of converting an extracellular signal into an intracellular response. This process involves a series of molecular events that transmit and amplify the signal from the cell surface to the interior of the cell. Signal transduction pathways mediate various cellular processes, such as gene expression, protein synthesis, and cell proliferation.
For example, when a signaling molecule, or ligand, binds to a receptor on the cell surface, it can activate a cascade of biochemical reactions inside the cell. These reactions often involve the addition and removal of phosphate groups from proteins, a process called phosphorylation. The phosphorylation events can activate or inactivate proteins, leading to specific cellular responses.
One well-known example of signal transduction is the MAPK/ERK pathway, which regulates gene expression and protein translation in response to growth factors. When a growth factor binds to its receptor on the cell surface, it initiates a series of phosphorylation events that ultimately activate the MAP kinase ERK. Activated ERK can then enter the nucleus and phosphorylate transcription factors, which control the expression of specific genes.