5 Drug Binding Receptors

Receptor is a macromolecule in the membrane or inside the cell that specifically (chemically) bind a ligand (drug). The binding of a drug to receptor depends on types of chemical bounds that can be established between drug and receptor. The strength of this chemical bonds (covalent, ionic, hydrogen, hydrophobic) determine the degree of affinity of ligand to receptor. Ligands (drugs) that attracted the receptors may be classified as agonists or antagonists. Agonists produce the biological response as a results of receptor –ligand interactions therefore agonists posses efficacy. On the contrary antagonists did not provoke any biological activity after binding to its receptor.

There are different types of receptors :

Transmembrane ion-channels receptors
Transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors
Transmembrane receptors with cytosolic domain
Intracellular (cytoplasm or nucleus) receptors