Cell receptors

Receptors are proteins from the cell membrane,

cytoplasm or nucleus that bind specific with with
extracellular substances called ligands
This binding induces specific cellular responses
Ligands represent all substances that bind to the
receptors and modulate cell function
There are 3 categories of signal-molecules that
are produced by the organism:
Local chemical mediators
Hormones
neurotrasmitters

Local chemical mediators

Are secreted by cells and act only on
the cells from their vecinity (because
they are received by the target cell
or destroyed)

Hormones
Are secreted by cells of endocrine
glands and use blood to get to the
target cells that are in different
organs

Neurotransmitters
Produced by neurons
Released in chemical synapses
Act on adjacent
target cells

Types of receptors
For endogenous substances:
- for neurotransmitters: acetylcholine, adrenaline,
noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, histamine,
- located in the postsynaptic membrane of the effector
cells (muscular, nervous)
- for hormones: hydrophilic hormones (insulin, adrenaline,
parathyroid hormone, glucagon) bind to the receptors of the
plasma membrane and these receptors send the necessary
information for changes in the cell metabolism
Hydrophobic hormones (steroids, thyroid hormones)
easily pass through the plasma membrane and bind to
intracellular receptors
- for immunogens: - for self on T lymphocytes
- antibody Fc receptors on G Ig, C3
For exogenous substances: viruses, microbial toxins, drugs

Receptors action
mechanism

Hydrophilic molecules cannot cross the

membrane unless they bind with specific
receptors that are proteins integrated in the
bilipid layer
The ligand binds with the receptor using
Hidrogen and hydrofobic connections
These connections are weak and depend
on the hormone concentration in the
extracellular environment
The ligand and receptor bind to create a
(ligand-receptor) complex

The ligand-receptor
complex

Has structural and functional effects on the membrane

Structural effects:
- normally, the receptors are scattered in the cell membrane, but after the
interaction with a ligand, because of the fluidity of the plasma membrane, they
group in small areas around the ligand
Functional effects depend on the nature of the ligand:
- Neurotransmitters can modify the permeability of the membrane (ex.
acetylcholine binds to the receptors to the receptors of the postsynaptic
membranes of the cardiac muscle fibers which inscreases the permeability of the
membrane for extracellular ions, and the nerve impulse is generated or calcium
is released into a muscle cell and a contraction is produced)
- Endogenous substances induce endocytosis
- First order messangers (hydrophilic hormones, drugs, neurotransmitters)
activate enzymes (adenylate cyclase) in the cell membrane using G protein
- This enzyme will catalyze the synthesis of cAMP (cyclic adenosine
monophosphate) from ATP (adenosine triphosphate) or from the fosforilation of
proteins
- cAMP activates protein kinases
- Once the concentration of AMPc in the cytoplasm rises, the effects of the 1st
order messangers are increased
- This function makes AMPc a second order messanger