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receptor Definition

re·cep·tor (-tər)

noun

  1. a receiver (in various senses)
  2. Biochem. any of a group of substances, mainly proteins, found esp. on the surface of a cell, that combine with specific molecules, hormones, antibodies, drugs, viruses, etc.
  3. Physiol. a nerve ending or group of nerve endings specialized for the reception of stimuli; sense organ

Etymology: ME receptour < OFr < L receptor < receptus: see receipt

  • recertify

receptor Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • activate: Agonist: A molecule that activates a cell receptor.
  • encode: The family of genes that encode the olfactory receptors responsible for detecting smell provide an extreme example.

Adjective modifier

  • nicotinic: To corroborate a direct action of atropine on nicotinic receptors, .. .
  • epidermal: The rationale for using epidermal growth factor receptor targeted therapies is also reviewed.
  • cannabinoid: The feeling of being ' stoned ' or ' high ' is caused by the THC binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain.
  • toll-like: The mechanism which is at work involves Toll-like receptors.
  • protein-coupled: It provides for blast searches of both published and unpublished sequences of G protein-coupled receptors.
  • glucocorticoid: Their first target was the glucocorticoid receptors responsible for mediating cortisol's stop signals.

Modifies a noun

  • antagonist: Research on the mechanisms of action of the retinoic acid receptor antagonists is ongoing.
  • agonist: Sumatriptan, is a selective serotonin receptor agonist, the receptors being present mainly in cranial vessels.
  • subtype: It acts selectively on the AT 1 receptor subtype, which is responsible for the known actions of angiotensin II.
  • tyrosine: Initial events in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling: : Cartoon representation of the initial events in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.
  • blocker: Volume 11, Number 4, July-August 2004 Angiotensin II receptor blockers: a new lease of LIFE?
  • modulator: In her final year, she carried out research on the toxicology of selective estrogen receptor modulators in the human endometrium.

Noun used with modifier

  • acetylcholine: These may come from new approaches such as the role of sigma, NMDA and acetylcholine receptors.
  • androgen: The researchers studied the gene for the androgen receptor, which is located on the X-chromosome.
  • glutamate: Specific group II metabotropic glutamate receptor activation inhibits the development of kindled epilepsy in rats.
  • estrogen: Some tumors have higher estrogen receptor levels than others.
  • estrogen: Novel SERMs ( selective estrogen receptor modulators ) are taking a different tack in the R&D stakes.
  • T-cell: T-cell receptor: a protein complex displayed on the surface of T cells that binds to antigen.