Question

How were signal transduction pathways discovered?

Answer 1

Signal transduction involves the binding of extra cellular signalling molecules, to receptors that trigger events inside the cell.

Explanation:

In 1970 Martin Rodbell examined the effects of glucagon on a rat's liver cell membrane receptor. He noted that guanosine triphosphate disassociated glucagon from this receptor and stimulated the G - protein , which strongly influenced the cells metabolism. Thus it was deduced that the G protein is a transducer that accepts glucose molecules and affects the cell.

For this he shared the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine with Alfred G. Gilman.