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In biochemistry and pharmacology, receptors are chemical structures, composed of protein, that receive and transduce signals that may be integrated into biological systems. [1] These signals are typically chemical messengers [nb 1] which bind to a receptor and produce physiological responses such as change in the electrical activity of a cell.
[citation needed] Complex multi-component signal transduction pathways provide opportunities for feedback, signal amplification, and interactions inside one cell between multiple signals and signaling pathways. [citation needed] A specific cellular response is the result of the transduced signal in the final stage of cell signaling.
A chemical message is any compound that serves to transmit a message, and may refer to: Hormone, long range chemical messenger; Neurotransmitter, communicates to adjacent cells; Neuropeptide, a protein sequence which acts as a hormone or neurotransmitter. The blood or other body fluids transport neuropeptides to non adjacent target cells, where ...
Signal transduction is the process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events.Proteins responsible for detecting stimuli are generally termed receptors, although in some cases the term sensor is used. [1]
Ion permeability of the plasma membrane is altered, and this transforms the extracellular chemical signal into an intracellular electric signal which alters the cell excitability. [12] The acetylcholine receptor is a receptor linked to a cation channel. The protein consists of four subunits: alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ), and delta (δ ...
These chemical compounds can either trigger an appetitive response for nutrients, or a defensive response against toxins depending on which receptors fire. Fish and crustaceans, who are constantly in an aqueous environment, use their gustatory system to identify certain chemicals in the mixture for the purpose of localization and ingestion of food.
Ligand-gated ion channels (LICs, LGIC), also commonly referred to as ionotropic receptors, are a group of transmembrane ion-channel proteins which open to allow ions such as Na +, K +, Ca 2+, and/or Cl − to pass through the membrane in response to the binding of a chemical messenger (i.e. a ligand), such as a neurotransmitter. [1] [2] [3]
Autocrine signaling is a form of cell signaling in which a cell secretes a hormone or chemical messenger (called the autocrine agent) that binds to autocrine receptors on that same cell, leading to changes in the cell. [1] This can be contrasted with paracrine signaling, intracrine signaling, or classical endocrine signaling.