Given that most enzymes are proteins, why does it make sense that receptors can be both a receptor and an enzyme?
Given that most enzymes are proteins, why does it make sense that receptors can be both a receptor and an enzyme?
Cell membranes contain a slew of proteins that serve a variety of roles to keep a cell alive. Receptors are a type of protein that works by interacting with a certain ligand molecule. When a ligand attaches to its receptor, the receptor can alter conformation, allowing a signal to be transmitted into the cell.
Receptors function like toggle switches that can be toggled on and off. When receptors are activated, they start a chain of events that leads to a biological reaction. There are thousands of different receptors in the human body. Despite their diversity, almost all receptors fall into one of a few different receptor superfamilies. Receptors bind chemicals that either activate or inhibit the receptor's natural activity. The receptor can be both receptor and enzyme by both enzymes and receptors have specific sites for the substrates. To bind the receptor causes a response beyond the cell membrane and the enzyme facilitates a chemical change in the substrate.
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps