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Cellular Signaling Kinetics

Meaning

Cellular Signaling Kinetics describes the quantitative study of the rates and mechanisms by which extracellular signals, such as hormones or neurotransmitters, are transmitted, amplified, and terminated within a target cell. This concept focuses on the temporal dynamics of cellular communication, including the speed of ligand-receptor binding and the half-life of intracellular secondary messengers. In endocrinology, these kinetics are vital for understanding how the pulse frequency and amplitude of hormone secretion translate into a precise, appropriate cellular response. Alterations in signaling kinetics can underlie conditions of hormone resistance or hypersensitivity.