Difference between revisions of "Ligand"
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| − | A ligand is a molecule that specifically binds to another molecule, often a larger one. Ligand binding usually causes a receptor protein to undergo a change of shape, which often activates the receptor. After activation, the receptor can then interact with other cellular molecules. <ref>Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. Biology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2002. Print.</ref> | + | A '''ligand''' is a [[molecule]] that specifically binds to another molecule, often a larger one. Ligand binding usually causes a receptor [[protein]] to undergo a change of shape, which often activates the receptor. After activation, the receptor can then interact with other cellular molecules. <ref>Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. Biology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2002. Print.</ref> Ligands do not only bind to proteins, however, and can be larger than the molecules that they bind to. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| + | [[Category:Chemistry]] | ||
Revision as of 16:33, July 12, 2012
A ligand is a molecule that specifically binds to another molecule, often a larger one. Ligand binding usually causes a receptor protein to undergo a change of shape, which often activates the receptor. After activation, the receptor can then interact with other cellular molecules. [1] Ligands do not only bind to proteins, however, and can be larger than the molecules that they bind to.
References
- ↑ Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. Biology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2002. Print.