Question

Discuss how knowledge of receptor structure can aid development of selective receptor antagonists and allosteric modulators

Answer 1

Receptor: a macromolecule or a binding site located on the surface or inside the effector cell that serves to recognize the molecule/ drug and initiate a response

An antagonist is an agent which prevents the activation of a response by the receptor.

Allosteric modulators act like an antagonist but instead of binding directly to the receptor binding site, it binds to the allosteric site thus preventing activation of the receptor. In addition it prohibits the binding of an agonist/ molecule to the receptor binding site.

To summarise, knowledge concerning the receptor structure, can be aid in developing appropriate selective receptor antagonists, or allosteric modulators both of which will inhibit it's activation.