Receptors

toc Definition Protein molecules on the surfaces of dendrites and cell bodies that have distinctive shapes and will interact only with specific neurotransmitters. Gen Psych, Chapter 2, Pg.42 Related to: Neuron, Dendrite, Synapse, Neurotransmitter

= Examples: =

When neurotransmitters move from a sending neuron to a receiving neuron, they must have the right shape in order to bind to the receiving neuron. A process similar to this is used by cells when the production of ATP is inhibited or initiated.

= Analogies: = Receptors are to neurotransmitters as a lock is to a key.

= Mnemonics: = RECeptors only RECeive certain neurotransmitters.

=In the News:= [|Olfaction in Drosophila] Olfaction offers a wealth of biological problems awaiting understanding in molecular terms. We’re interested in the remarkable sensitivity of the olfactory system, its ability to distinguish among odors, and the mechanisms by which sensory input is translated into behavioral output. //Drosophila// has a highly sophisticated olfactory system, which we study with molecular, genetic, physiological, computational, and behavioral approaches.



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