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Signaling Pathways

Introduction to Cell Signaling







AKT Pathway Overview


Akt, also known as Protein Kinase B (PKB), is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase that plays an integral role in mediating signals for cell growth, survival, cell-cycle progression, differentiation, transcription, translation, and glucose metabolism. Akt is one of the most actively studied kinase pathways in the basic research and drug development arenas. Recent advances in Akt signaling have focused on understanding even more cellular processes and identifying cellular substrates that are physiologically relevant in vivo. These efforts have uncovered important roles for Akt regulation in cancer research, neuroscience, and disease prevention.  




c-MET Pathway Overview


c-Met is a receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), while RON is recognized by macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), also known as HGF-like protein. c-Met and RON both are expressed by a variety of epithelial-derived tumors and cancer cell lines and thought to play a functional role in tumorigenesis and invasive-metastatic phenotypes. Both RON and c-Met are recent targets of drug studies to control cell migration and matrix invasion.


NF-κB Pathway Overview


Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells or NF-κB is a protein complex that controls the transcription of DNA. It is found in almost all animal cells where they adjust a broad range of biological processes including innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, stress responses, B cell development, and lymphoid organogenesis.  Misregulated NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.  Many natural products promoted as having anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity have been shown to inhibit NF-κB.

Notch Signaling Pathway Overview


The Notch signaling pathway is a fundamental evolutionarily conserved signaling system allowing neighboring cells to communicate and perform their proper developmental role. Notch proteins mediate critically important cellular functions through direct cell-cell contact. Notch signaling involves gene regulation mechanisms that control multiple cell differentiation processes during embryonic and adult life.

STAT Signaling Pathway Overview


STAT signaling may hold the key to some immune deficiency research and various types of cancers. By studying the autophosphorylation behavior of this pathway, and the influence of STAT proteins in other pathways, researchers gain valuable insight into understanding how this essential signaling system interacts with cellular functions. Rockland develops a variety of antibodies against this pathway that have proven instrumental in continuing the ongoing research within the cancer and immunology fields.

Other areas in which Rockland is helping promote active research for cell signaling analysis include P53, and C-met.