Question

Do ligands change shape?

Answer 1

Ligands:

1. A ligand is a chemical that forms a compound with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose in biochemistry and pharmacology.
2. The word comes from the Latin word ligare, which means "to bind."
3. In protein-ligand binding, the ligand is often a chemical that provides a signal by attaching to a specific site on a target protein.
4. Ligand binding alters the structure of the receptor, allowing certain ions to pass, typically sodium, magnesium, calcium, or hydrogen.
5. Dendrites and cell bodies of neurons have chemically gated ion channels.
6. No, no two ligands or receptors have the same chemical structure or shape.
7. If all ligands were the same, the signals could be misinterpreted.
8. Because some hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, contain lipids, they are non-polar.
9. Yes, ligands can alter form.