receptor etymology

Etymology

  • Latin: receptōr ("one who receives")
  • Verb: recipere ("to receive, take in")
  • Proto-Indo-European: *prek- ("to grasp, take")

Meaning and Origin

"Receptor" is a noun that refers to a molecule in a biological system that binds specifically to another molecule or ion. The term was first used in its modern scientific sense in the early 19th century by German physiologist Johannes Müller.

The concept of a "receptor" originated from the observation that certain substances elicited specific physiological responses in living organisms. For example, the binding of morphine to opioid receptors in the brain produces analgesia. Müller proposed that these responses were mediated by specific molecules on the surface of target cells that recognized and bound to the stimulating substances.

As understanding of biological processes advanced, it became clear that receptors play a crucial role in various cellular signaling pathways, hormone action, and sensory perception. Receptors are integral membrane proteins that span the cell membrane and possess a ligand-binding domain that interacts with specific signaling molecules. The binding of ligands to receptors triggers conformational changes that initiate downstream signaling events, such as changes in ion channel conductance, activation of intracellular signaling pathways, or gene expression.

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