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Novel drug targets are emerging from the elucidation of the molecular chain
 
reactions that underlie the responses of cells to their environment. Signal
 
transduction is the term describing the process of conversion of external signals,
 
such as hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, cytokines, stress conditions
 
and others, to a specific cellular response, such as gene expression or suppression,
 
cell division or even cell suicide.

 

This process is now understood to begin at the cell membrane, where a variety
 
of receptors change properties upon binding of their ligand, initiating cascades
 
of enzymatic reactions inside the cell. These include protein cleavage and also
 
modification by phosphorylation, for example. These processes are best thought
 
of as linear pathways intersecting each other at common points and forming networks
 
of interacting molecules inside cells. These pathways and networks go awry in
 
almost all diseases examined, generating a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm
 
about the prospect of identifying novel drug targets based on knowledge of key
 
signal transduction components and their link to disease.

I) PART 1: TECHNOLOGY

II) PART 2: BUSINESS Users and Market

III) PART 3: COMPANIES

IV) PART 4: PATENTS