THE LOGIC OF SIGNALING FROM THE CELL-SURFACE TO THE NUCLEUS

The apparent imprecisions in the signal transduction mechanisms that c ouple specific hormone receptors to predictable nuclear transcription events have raised many issues for both biology and medicine. In this article, a fuzzy logic model is proposed to provide a means of formall y describing signal transduction systems and making predictions about the effects of various combinations of inputs. The fuzzy logic model m ay provide opportunities mathematically to describe regulatory ensembl es that are too complex to describe by conventional models. In additio n, the nature of ''fuzzy variables'' provides insight into the paradox es that underlie both imprecision and predictability in signal transdu ction. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.