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A cell constantly receives signals: there are signals that cause the cell to specialize in a certain task in the organism. Other signals make the cell produce a certain product. Also, to be able to grow and survive, a cell needs the impetus through external signals.
Certain biochemical agents serve as signal transductors, as "messengers". They make contact with the cell by attaching to special docking sites on the surface.
These docking sites can be compared with tiny antennas that can receive a message from the outside and send it further to the inside. Because the docking sites receive the messages, they are called receptors.
Sometimes it happens that Stat3 remains constantly switched on even when no signal comes from outside. When Stat3 or other signal transductors are overactive, that can have momentous consequences. Then the harmoniously balanced communication with the outside world of the cell gets confused. That can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and the onset of cancer.
Page 2: How scientists found a small protein that blocks the signal transductor Stat3 and leads to cell suicide.