Here is a small challenge question that will come up in class soon enough, pertaining to the observation that essentially all major intracellular regulation pathways (signaling pathways) for metabolism, cellular functions such as growth and cell cycling as well as typical activities of cells seem to involve the action of protein kinases. Just about any hormonal control mechanism involves either activation or inhibition of protein kinases (as well as phophoprotein phosphatases, the reverse event). So, do you have any idea why nature chose protein phosphorylation as a central and common controlling function?
Additionally, you will see that calcium ion (Ca2+) also is involved in just about any signaling pathway - why did nature choose to muse this ion?
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