Opinion
Molecular machines or pleiomorphic ensembles: signaling complexes revisited
1 Richard D Berlin Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3301, USA
2 Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3301, USA
3 Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3301, USA
4 Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3301, USA
Journal of Biology 2009, 8:81 doi:10.1186/jbiol185
Published: 16 October 2009Abstract
Signaling complexes typically consist of highly dynamic molecular ensembles that are challenging to study and to describe accurately. Conventional mechanical descriptions misrepresent this reality and can be actively counterproductive by misdirecting us away from investigating critical issues.
