Transmembrane Signaling Evolution

On the evolution of neurochemical transmission. 

One-component systems dominate signal transduction in prokaryotes 
Both full length HTML 
and full length PDFs 
available online for free. 
"By analyzing information encoded by 145 prokaryotic genomes, we found that the majority of signal transduction systems consist of a single protein that contains input and output domains but lacks phosphotransfer domains typical of two-component systems. One-component systems are evolutionarily older, more widely distributed among bacteria and archaea, and display a greater diversity of domains than two-component systems.

Signal transduction pathways in prokaryotes regulate cellular functions in response to environmental cues. According to the current view, prokaryotic signal transduction is conducted mostly by two-component regulatory systems that function as a result of phosphotransfer between two key proteins: a sensor histidine kinase and a response regulator [1-6]. Most histidine kinases that have been experimentally studied are membrane-bound and have an extracellular input domain, whereas all response regulators are cytosolic. In a typical two-component system, the input domain of the sensor histidine kinase detects the environmental signal (usually a small molecule ligand) resulting in the activation of the histidine kinase domain, which autophosphorylates at a specific histidine residue (H; Figure 1a). The phosphoryl group (P) is then transferred to a specific aspartate residue (D) in the receiver domain of a response regulator. Phosphorylation of the response regulator activates the output domain, which initiates the corresponding cellular response. The majority of experimentally characterized two-component systems regulate gene expression at the level of transcription using the DNA-binding helix-turn-helix (HTH) output domains of the response regulators [4,5]. In addition, some response regulators contain enzymatic output domains, such as the di-guanylate cyclase [7].

... it is possible that the last common ancestor of archaea and bacteria (i.e. the last common ancestor of all modern life forms) did not have two-component systems, but encoded several one-component regulators.

The availability of a large number of sequenced prokaryotic genomes has enabled the dominance of one-component signal transduction systems to be revealed and the apparent ancestor-descendant relationship between them and the two-component systems in prokaryotes to be proposed.

Evolution and phyletic distribution of two-component ... 
"Two-component signal transduction systems are abundant in prokaryotes. ... These systems are also found, although in much smaller numbers, in lower eukaryotes and plants..."  "...absence of the systems in mammals..."  "As their name suggests, two-component signal transduction systems are composed of two dedicated proteins, a sensor and a regulator [14..]"  "The majority of sensing and signal transduction in prokaryotes appears to be carried out by so-called one-component systems (OCSs), single proteins that combine properties of both a sensor and a regulator [10..].

Evolution of Hormonal Signaling Systems (PubMed) 
Abstract only online.  I have PDF. 
he roots of chemosignalling systems are likely to be found in prokaryotes

Prokaryotic Origin and Evolution of Eukaryotic Chemosignaling (PubMed)$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed 
Abstract only online.  I have PDF. 
eukaryotic signal systems have prokaryotic roots...the signal transduction systems seen in unicellular eukaryotes represent a transitional stage in the evolution of chemosignaling systems between prokaryotes and higher eukaryotes.
"  Note: the expression "higher eukaryotes" refers to more advanced animals including humans. 

The Molecular History of Eukaryotic Life (Goog)
Although this site is 9 years old and doesn't have active links, it nevertheless provides much evolutionary information based on genomics and is well worth looking at.  "The genome of the nematode worm contains an estimated 1049 G-protein coupled receptors. "... the archaebacterial ancestor of eukaryotes may have contributed a seven transmembrane precursor of modern seven transmembrane receptor proteins.

A census of membrane-bound and intracellular signal transduction proteins in bacteria (PubMed)   
  Full length article. 

Pathways of the evolution of hormonal signal realization systems (PubMed) 
Only abstract available online.  I got PDF from the library. 

This article from 1991 conflates transmembrane transport with transmembrane signaling.  In particular, it considers transmembrane transport to be a form of transmembrane signaling, and there's nothing illogical about this.  However, I think it's helpful to distinguish between the two, which I've done. 

It also does not distinguish receptors from transporters and signalers, as I have done.  Again, there's nothing logically inconsistent about this, but it lumps together three different aspects of a cells relationship with its environment which are more easily understood when one considers them separately.