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Phosphatidylinositol Signaling Pathway

Meaning

The Phosphatidylinositol Signaling Pathway is a critical, ubiquitous signal transduction cascade used by cells to relay external stimuli, including the binding of various hormones and growth factors, from the cell membrane to the intracellular machinery. This pathway involves the cleavage of a membrane lipid, Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), into two crucial second messengers: inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). It is fundamental to processes such as calcium mobilization, cell proliferation, and hormone-mediated glucose transport.