[Annotation] ligands, receptors, and signaling pathways

[Doug howe]

Is it correct to annotate receptors with signaling pathway terms?  For 
example if a BMP receptor mutant is shown to have reduced bmp signaling, 
should the receptor gene be annotated with the term 'BMP signaling 
pathway', or are receptors themselves not part of the pathway?  Ditto 
for ligands.

The current def of 'BMP signaling pathway' is: A series of molecular 
signals generated as a consequence of any member of the BMP (bone 
morphogenetic protein) family binding to a cell surface receptor."

This def makes it seem like the signaling pathway initiates with things 
downstream of (and excluding) the receptor itself?

 Whatever the policy is on this, it might be a useful curatorial note to 
include on such terms so curators can see the info right in term browsers.

-- 
Doug Howe, Ph.D.
ZFIN Scientific Curator
Zebrafish Nomenclature Coordinator