12/08 Lecture 13 - Activation and Inhibition I

Receptor

This is a cellular protein that controls chemical signalling between and within cells

Substrate

This is a chemical that undergoes a reaction when it interacts with an enzyme

Ligand

This is a chemical that does not undergo a reaction when it interacts with a protein

Endogenous ligand

This is a ligand produced inside the body, usually agonistic

Exogenous ligand

This is a ligand produced outside the body, usually antagonistic

Binding specificity

This refers to binding and activation/inhibition that only occurs when chemical contact between ligand and protein is optimal

Agonist

This is a ligand that binds to a receptor and activates it, causing conformational change

Antagonist

This is a ligand that binds to a receptor and inhibits it, blocking the agonist from binding