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The concept of 'critical nodes' has been used to define the main junctions in physiologically important, complex signalling networks. Several critical nodes of the insulin network have been identified and shown to have important roles in normal physiology and disease states.
Apoptosis is integral to the development of the simple nematode, during which it claims >10% of the somatic cells that are generated. Recent insights into the regulation and execution of apoptosis in this organism will increase our understanding of developmental apoptosis in more complex species.
Prokaryotic mechanosensitive channels function as molecular switches that transduce bilayer deformations into protein motion. These structural rearrangements generate large non-selective pores that result in fast solute and solvent exchange and function as a prokaryotic 'last line of defence' to sudden osmotic challenges.
The MAPK-activated protein kinase (MK) subfamily consists of three structurally related enzymes that function downstream of MAPKs. These kinases are involved in the regulation of actin architecture, cell migration, development, cell-cycle progression and chromatin remodelling as well as mRNA stability and translation.
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential process during morphogenesis. Dissecting the signalling strategies that orchestrate EMT have shown that a complex signalling network, which controls adhesion, motility, survival and differentiation, also regulates the initiation and execution of EMT during embryonic development.
