A measure of how accurately and consistently cellular machinery translates external molecular signals, such as hormone binding to a receptor, into the intended downstream biological response without error or noise. High fidelity ensures that the cellular output precisely matches the input command from the endocrine system. Low fidelity suggests functional resistance or aberrant signaling.
Origin
Originating from systems biology and molecular pharmacology, this term quantifies the precision inherent in signal transduction pathways. It focuses on the reliability of information transfer from the ligand-receptor complex to the nucleus or effector molecules.
Mechanism
Fidelity is maintained through robust buffering systems, appropriate phosphorylation cascades, and regulated protein turnover that quickly reset the system after signal termination. Any disruption to these scaffolding or enzymatic processes can introduce molecular noise, decreasing instruction fidelity.
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