Preferred Label : Ion Channel and Phorbal Esters Signaling Pathway;
Alternative definition : BIOCARTA: Molecules transmitting signals into cells often act through receptors in
the plasma membrane that stimulate production of second messengers. When activated
by a plasma membrane receptor, the enzyme phospholipase C (PLCg) hydrolyzes the membrane
lipid phosphatidylinositol (PIP2) into the second messengers diacylglycerol (DAG)
and IP3. IP3 releases calcium from intracellular stores into the cytoplasm where calcium
alters many cellular activities, including activating protein kinase C. DAG also activates
protein kinase C. Biologists often study signaling by artificially manipulating pathways
using molecules like ionomycin and phorbol esters as research tools. Ionomycin is
a molecule that carries calcium through the plasma membrane to increase the calcium
concentration in the cytoplasm and activate protein kinase C without activating phospholipase
C. Phorbol esters are molecules that mimic the action of DAG in the activation of
protein kinase C, and were originally identified as tumor-promoting agents. The combination
of ionomycin and phorbol esters is often used experimentally to study the effect of
calcium and DAG signaling in cellular responses like T cell activation. (This definition
may be outdated - see the DesignNote.);
NCIt note : The BIOCARTA Definition (ALT_DEFINITION) for this pathway concept was provided by
BioCarta. This property was not created by, nor is it maintained by the NCI Thesaurus
staff. Additionally, BioCarta is no longer updating its pathway data; thus, the BIOCARTA
Definition might be outdated or inaccurate. Please see the Terms and Conditions for
Use at http://www.biocarta.com/.;
Biocarta ID : h_ionPathway;
Origin ID : C39133;
UMLS CUI : C1517592;
Semantic type(s)
- has_gene_product_element
- pathway_has_gene_element
