How does receptors work

Cell-surface receptors , also known as transmembrane receptors , are proteins that are found attached to the cell membrane. These receptors bind to external ligand molecules ligands that do not travel across the cell membrane. This type of receptor spans the plasma membrane and performs signal transduction , in which an extracellular signal is converted into an intercellular signal. Ligands that interact with cell-surface receptors do not have to enter the cell that they affect.

Cell-surface receptors are also called cell-specific proteins or markers because they are specific to individual cell types. Each cell-surface receptor has three main components: an external ligand-binding domain, a hydrophobic membrane-spanning region, and an intracellular domain inside the cell.

The size and extent of each of these domains vary widely, depending on the type of receptor. Text adapted from: OpenStax , Biology. OpenStax CNX. October 13, Sigalov, The School of Nature. Cao, X. Koh, L. Dong, X. Du, A. When a ligand binds to the receptor site on the channel, the channel opens, allowing ions to travel through the channel in milliseconds. G-protein-coupled receptors are the largest class of receptors. These receptors work with what is known as a G-protein. G-protein-coupled receptors help the cell respond to different substances, such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and lipids.

Many medical drugs work by binding to G-protein-coupled receptors. Enzyme-linked receptors are another kind of cell-surface receptor. They work with proteins, called enzymes, which play a major role in accelerating chemical reactions within cells. These reactions help cells assemble and dissemble material as well as grow and reproduce.

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Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. In others, they can work with medication to help control certain health conditions. For example, in celiac disease , receptors on specific immune system cells serve as the locks, while fragments of the gluten protein serve as the keys.

This interaction triggers celiac's characteristic intestinal damage known as villous atrophy. Certain cellular receptors also appear to play a role in causing damage in other autoimmune diseases too.

That's because, in an autoimmune disease like Celiac , your immune system mistakenly turns on and damages some of your body's own cells. But in some cases, you can use the behavior of cell receptors to support treatment. For instance, in high blood pressure, drugs can fit like keys into the cellular receptors that otherwise would fit a hormone that raises blood pressure.

These drugs are known as angiotensin-blockers because they block the blood pressure-raising hormone angiotensin. As a result, they can help control your blood pressure by preventing angiotensin from signaling cells to raise blood pressure.

A cell receptor is a protein molecule to which substances like hormones, drugs, and antigens can bind. This allows them to change the activity of a cell. There are hundreds of types of receptors, all of which respond to different things, such as chemicals, pressure, or light. Receptors can be responsible for some of the damage that occurs in autoimmune diseases. But, on the other hand, they can also play a role in helping medication bind to a cell to treat some conditions.

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