A ligand is a molecule that binds specifically to another molecule, usually a larger one, through chemical interactions at the cellular level. In the context of cell membranes, ligands typically interact with receptors to initiate a cellular response.
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A protein molecule on the cell surface or within cells that binds to specific molecules like hormones or neurotransmitters, initiating a physiological response.
Signal Transduction: The process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events, most often involving the binding of ligands to receptors.
The thin, flexible barrier that surrounds all cells; it controls what enters and leaves the cell and facilitates communication between cells through receptor-ligand interactions