Calcium signaling and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways

Calcium signaling and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways represent broad biological systems rather than single therapeutic targets (KEGG Pathway hsa04020; KEGG Pathway hsa04080). The calcium signaling pathway is a fundamental mechanism for intracellular communication, regulating processes such as muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, and gene transcription through the modulation of cytosolic calcium levels (Clapham, 2007). The neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway encompasses a diverse group of receptors, including G protein-coupled receptors and ion channels, that respond to neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and hormones to mediate neuronal signaling (Kanehisa et al., 2023). Because these pathways involve hundreds of distinct proteins, they are central to the pathophysiology of numerous conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular ailments (Berridge et al., 2003). Drugs targeting components of these pathways, such as calcium channel blockers or neurotransmitter receptor modulators, are widely used in clinical practice but must be carefully managed due to the pathways' pervasive roles across multiple organ systems (StatPearls, 2023). Consequently, while these pathways are critical for drug discovery, they do not constitute a single molecular target but rather a network of interacting molecules.

Other names

KEGG Calcium signaling pathway (hsa04020)KEGG Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction (hsa04080)Calcium signalingNeuroactive ligand-receptor interaction

Modulation of intracellular calcium concentrations and activation or inhibition of various neuroactive receptors including G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels.