Learning of Signaling Networks: Molecular Mechanisms

Abstract

Molecular processes of neuronal learning have been well described. However, learning mechanisms of non-neuronal cells are not yet fully understood at the molecular level. Here, we discuss molecular mechanisms of cellular learning, including conformational memory of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and prions, signaling cascades, protein translocation, RNAs [miRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)], and chromatin memory. We hypothesize that these processes constitute the learning of signaling networks and correspond to a generalized Hebbian learning process of single, non-neuronal cells, and we discuss how cellular learning may open novel directions in drug design and inspire new artificial intelligence methods.

Keywords: epigenetic memory; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; histone modification; molecular memory; signaling pathways; system-level memory.