Abstract

Cells convey signals (information) across their membranes through the interactions of membrane proteins that communicate with each other, forming what are called signal pathways, which are analogous to the connected components in an electronic circuit. But cell membranes are 2-dimensional liquids in which diffusion dominates, raising the questions how do the components connect, and why do coexisting pathways, which often share components, not interfere with each other? In this presentation I will show you that many membrane proteins assemble into weakly-interacting, transient, molecular-specific clusters of self, which we call higher order transient structures (HOTS). Because molecular specificity invokes self-recognition through protein sequence and structure, we propose that HOTS are genetically encoded macromolecular units. I will explain how HOTS can (1) underlie a dynamic connectivity by tying together in a statistical manner the components of a signal pathway and (2) permit multiple signal pathways to coexist in the cell membrane, functioning without interference.