SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION
signal transduction: translation
The cascade of processes by which an extracellular signal (typically a hormone or neurotransmitter) interacts with a receptor at the cell surface, causing a change in the level of a second messenger (for example calcium or cyclic AMP) and ultimately effects a change in the cell\'s functioning (for example, triggering glucose uptake, or initiating cell division). Can also be applied to sensory signal transduction, eg. of light at photoreceptors.