HEPTAHELICAL RECEPTOR Meaning and
Definition
-
A heptahelical receptor, also referred to as a seven-transmembrane receptor or G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is a type of integral membrane protein that plays a critical role in cellular signaling. This class of receptors is characterized by its seven transmembrane α-helices that span the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane. The term "heptahelical" indicates the presence of seven helical segments.
Heptahelical receptors are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including sensory perception, neurotransmission, hormone regulation, and immune response. They serve as cellular gatekeepers that initiate signal transduction upon interaction with specific ligands, such as hormones, peptides, neurotransmitters, or even light-sensitive molecules.
The activation of a heptahelical receptor leads to conformational changes in the protein structure, triggering the recruitment of intracellular signaling molecules. These molecules, primarily G proteins, act as intermediaries to relay the extracellular signal to intracellular effectors, such as ion channels or enzyme cascades, ultimately leading to a cellular response.
Pharmaceutical research and drug development have focused extensively on heptahelical receptors due to their potential as therapeutic targets. Many drugs on the market today target specific GPCRs to modulate cellular signaling pathways and regulate various physiological functions.
In summary, a heptahelical receptor is a class of integral membrane proteins characterized by seven transmembrane α-helices. They play a vital role in cellular signaling by initiating signal transduction upon ligand binding, and they are involved in various physiological processes.
Common Misspellings for HEPTAHELICAL RECEPTOR
- geptahelical receptor
- beptahelical receptor
- neptahelical receptor
- jeptahelical receptor
- ueptahelical receptor
- yeptahelical receptor
- hwptahelical receptor
- hsptahelical receptor
- hdptahelical receptor
- hrptahelical receptor
- h4ptahelical receptor
- h3ptahelical receptor
- heotahelical receptor
- heltahelical receptor
- he0tahelical receptor
- heprahelical receptor
- hepfahelical receptor
- hepgahelical receptor
- hepyahelical receptor
- hep6ahelical receptor
Etymology of HEPTAHELICAL RECEPTOR
The word "heptahelical receptor" is a compound term that can be broken down into two parts: "heptahelical" and "receptor".
The term "heptahelical" comes from the Latin word "hepta", meaning "seven", and the English word "helical", meaning "having the shape or form of a helix or spiral". In this context, "heptahelical" refers to a sevenfold repeating structure or shape.
The term "receptor" comes from the Latin word "recipere", meaning "to receive". In biology and medicine, a receptor refers to a specialized protein molecule on the surface or inside a cell that specifically recognizes and binds to a particular substance, such as a hormone, neurotransmitter, or drug, to produce a specific physiological effect.
