Question

Design an example to explain binding and signaling through ion channels, GPCR’s, or other receptors to a high-school student. See if you can come up with a comparison, analogy, or some sort of way to simply explain binding and signaling to a high-school student.

Answer 1

All cells receive and respond to signals from their surroundings. This is accomplished by a variety of signal molecules that are secreted or expressed on the surface of one cell and bind to receptors expressed by other cells, thereby integrating and coordinating the functions of many individual cells.

A case of good analogy is- Reception of a radio broadcast. All persons who are within the range of a transmitter for Public Radio are exposed to that signal. But, in order to be a Public Radio target and thus influenced directly by their broadcasts, they have to have a receiver tuned to that frequency.

Receptors are the receivers for the signal molecules in case of signalling. When a signal molecule binds to a specific receptor, it leads to their activation causing the initiation of signaling pathways.

Ps- An upvote would be highly appreciated