| receptors, muscarinic | One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Muscarinic receptors were originally defined by their preference for muscarine over nicotine. There are several subtypes (usually m1, m2, m3...) that are characterised by their cellular actions, pharmacology, and molecular biology. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| receptors, nerve growth factor | Cell surface receptors that bind nerve growth factor (ngf) and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Nerve growth factor receptors mediate the effects of nerve growth factor on the survival and growth of neurons. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neurokinin-1 | A class of cell surface receptors for tachykinins with a preference for substance p. Neurokinin-1 (nk-1) receptors have been cloned and are members of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily. They are found on many cell types including central and peripheral neurons, smooth muscle cells, acinar cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neurokinin-2 | A class of cell surface receptors for tachykinins that prefers neurokinin a (nka, substance k, neurokinin alpha, neuromedin l), neuropeptide k (npk), or neuropeptide gamma over other tachykinins. Neurokinin-2 (nk-2) receptors have been cloned and are similar to other g-protein coupled receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neurokinin-3 | A class of cell surface receptors for tachykinins that prefers neurokinin b (neurokinin beta, neuromedin k) over other tachykinins. Neurokinin-3 (nk-3) receptors have been cloned and are members of the g-protein coupled receptor superfamily. They have been found in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neuropeptide | Cell surface receptors that bind specific neuropeptides with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Many neuropeptides are also hormones outside of the nervous system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neuropeptide y | Cell surface proteins that bind neuropeptide y with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behaviour of cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neurotensin | Cell surface proteins that bind neurotensin with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behaviour of cells. Neurotensin and neurotensin receptors are found in the central nervous system and in the periphery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, neurotransmitter | Cell surface receptors that bind signalling molecules released by neurons and convert these signals into intracellular changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Neurotransmitter is used here in its most general sense, including not only messengers that act to regulate ion channels, but also those which act on second messenger systems and those which may act at a distance from their release sites. Included are receptors for neuromodulators, neuroregulators, neuromediators, and neurohumors, whether or not located at synapses. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, nicotinic | One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Nicotinic receptors were originally distinguished by their preference for nicotine over muscarine. They are generally divided into muscle-type and neuronal-type (previously ganglionic) based on pharmacology, molecular biology, and biophysical properties of the channels. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, n-methyl-d-aspartate | A class of ionotropic glutamate receptors characterised by affinity for n-methyl-d-aspartate. Nmda receptors have an allosteric binding site for glycine which must be occupied for the channel to open efficiently and a site within the channel itself to which magnesium ions bind in a voltage-dependent manner. The positive voltage dependence of channel conductance and the high permeability of the conducting channel to calcium ions (as well as to monovalent cations) are important in excitotoxicity and neuronal plasticity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, odourant | Proteins, usually projecting from the cilia of olfactory receptor neurons, that specifically bind odourant molecules and trigger responses in the neurons. The large number of different odourant receptors appears to arise from several gene families or subfamilies rather than from DNA rearrangement. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, opioid | Cell membrane proteins that bind opioids and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behaviour of cells. The endogenous ligands for opioid receptors in mammals include three families of peptides, the enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins. The receptor classes include mu, delta, and kappa receptors. Sigma receptors bind several psychoactive substances, including certain opioids, but their endogenous ligands are not known. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, opioid, delta | A class of opioid receptors recognised by its pharmacological profile. Delta opioid receptors bind endorphins and enkephalins with approximately equal affinity and have less affinity for dynorphins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, opioid, kappa | A class of opioid receptors recognised by its pharmacological profile. Kappa opioid receptors bind dynorphins with a higher affinity than endorphins which are themselves preferred to enkephalins. (12 Dec 1998) |