EXTRACELLULAR LIGAND Meaning and
Definition
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Extracellular ligand refers to a molecule or substance present in the extracellular space, which is the area outside of the cell membrane in multicellular organisms. It is involved in the process of cell signaling, where it binds to specific receptors on the surface of target cells to initiate a cellular response or signal transmission. Extracellular ligands can be proteins, peptides, hormones, neurotransmitters, or small molecules.
The binding of an extracellular ligand to its specific cell surface receptor triggers a series of events within the target cell, leading to various physiological responses. These ligands play a crucial role in cellular communication and regulation, allowing cells to interact and coordinate their functions in a multicellular organism.
Extracellular ligands are often released by neighboring cells or distant cells and can act in a paracrine or endocrine manner to influence nearby or distant cells, respectively. They can also act as autocrine ligands, affecting the cells that produce them. The specificity of the ligand-receptor interaction determines the target cells and the type of response that is elicited.
Understanding the functionality and pathways of extracellular ligands is essential in fields such as biochemistry, pharmacology, and cell biology, as it can help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of certain diseases and provide potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
Common Misspellings for EXTRACELLULAR LIGAND
- wxtracellular ligand
- sxtracellular ligand
- dxtracellular ligand
- rxtracellular ligand
- 4xtracellular ligand
- 3xtracellular ligand
- eztracellular ligand
- ectracellular ligand
- edtracellular ligand
- estracellular ligand
- exrracellular ligand
- exfracellular ligand
- exgracellular ligand
- exyracellular ligand
- ex6racellular ligand
- ex5racellular ligand
- exteacellular ligand
- extdacellular ligand
- extfacellular ligand
- exttacellular ligand
Etymology of EXTRACELLULAR LIGAND
The term "extracellular" is derived from the combination of the prefix "extra-" (meaning "outside" or "beyond") and the word "cellular" (referring to something related to cells). "Ligand" on the other hand, originates from the Latin word "ligandum", which means "something that binds". In the context of biology and biochemistry, a ligand is a molecule that binds to a specific target molecule, such as a receptor or enzyme. Therefore, when combined, the term "extracellular ligand" refers to a molecule that binds to a receptor or enzyme located outside of the cell.
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