Molecular Mechanisms of Desensitization to Signal Molecules

All organisms adapt, or at least try to adapt, to informa- tion or signals arising from their surrounding environment. This can affect the behaviour of the entire organism or the functioning of discrete organs or areas within an organism, depending upon its degree of complexity. This workshop was set up with the aim of encouraging discussions and collaboration between investiga- tors studying a wide spectrum of signal transduction/sensing events occurring at the cell surface in systems where the sig- nalling mechanisms became attenuated or desensitized after their initial stimulation/activation. To this end a wide range of sys- tems were dealt with ranging from simple organisms to higher eUkaryotes. Desensitization has been of much interest for some time. Recently, however, a number of novel mechanisms have been elucidated and, in order to capture the present excitement in this field, the participants have been encouraged to produce articles which would present an overview of their field and research effort which, we hope, will be useful to the int- ested non-speciaJist and specialist alike. A brief transcript or the ensuing discussions has also been included ror clarifi- cation and to highlight both points of comparison between sys- tems and of particular interest.