Cell Signalling

Cell signalling and its perturbation in disease is perhaps the fastest growing area of biochemical research. Putting the term 'ceU signalling' into PubMed produces over 350,000 pubUshed papers. Therefore, there is need for an informative and readable introduction to the subject. Hancock attempts to do this, but I found the result somewhat disappointing.
The ceUs of multiceUular organisms need to communicate with each other in order to coordinate growth and differentiation. This is carried out by secretion of soluble signalling molecules that interact with plasma membrane receptors. These transduce the signal across the membrane and initiate a cytoplasmic signal cascade culminating in specific gene activation. There are thus three clear parts to the process, and mutations leading to changes in one or more stages of the process are evident for example in cancer cells. Unfortunately, the organisation of the book makes it difficult to understand the way in which these three stages interact.
The diagrams are of poor quakty and the figure legends are very brief and uninformative. For example, Figure 8.6 illustrates a complex signal pathway involving inositol substrates which I would think incomprehensible to a newcomer to the field. Common themes and structures are not emphasised; for example, activation of receptors or intracellular enzymes commonly occurs by phosphorylation of tyrosine, serine or threonine residues. Again, the book treats this topic in a superficial manner, and unifying principles such as src homology domains are not emphasised.
The many signalling pathways in the ceU converge on a few common intermediates and a smaller number of transcription factors. How does the cell know which signalling molecule has initiated the response and how do different pathways communicate (crosstalk) with each other? Again, these topics are not addressed in a meaningful manner.