Receptors

Definition

Receptors are a group of glycoprotein or lipoprotein composition of biological macromolecules, present in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, or nucleus that recognize and specifically bind to a biologically active signal molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter, pharmaceutical drug, cytokines, growth factors, or intracellular signaling molecules). Recognition of biologically active chemical signals by a receptor can activate or initiate a series of intracellular biochemical cascade reactions, leading to a specific biological input.

Characteristics

A receptor carries out two main functions:

• First, it recognizes and binds to specific signaling molecules, also called ligands. A ligand (derived from the Latin ligandus, binding) is a molecule that is able to bind specifically and reversibly to one or more specific sites on another molecule and forms a larger complex to serve a biological purpose. Several intermolecular forces are considered to be responsible for the molecular recognition...