Asksia AI LOGO

Sia

Question
Biology
Posted 10 months ago
Describe the difference between an ion channel receptor and a GPCR
Sign in to unlock the answer
Answer from Sia
Posted 10 months ago
Answer
Ion channel receptors are membrane proteins that allow ions to pass through upon ligand binding, while GPCRs activate G proteins upon ligand binding to initiate a signaling cascade.
Solution
a
Structure: Ion channel receptors are pore-forming proteins that allow specific ions to pass through the membrane, while GPCRs are not channels but rather activate G proteins
b
Mechanism of action: Ion channel receptors open or close in response to ligand binding, directly altering ion flow across the membrane. GPCRs, on the other hand, activate G proteins which then trigger downstream signaling pathways
c
Speed of response: Ion channel receptors typically produce a rapid response by quickly changing the ion permeability of the membrane. GPCRs usually induce slower responses as they involve multiple steps in the signaling cascade
Key Concept
Ion channel receptors and GPCRs differ in structure, mechanism, and speed of response.
Explanation
Ion channel receptors form a channel that opens or closes to allow ions to pass in response to a ligand, resulting in a fast cellular response. GPCRs activate G proteins that then initiate a series of events leading to a cellular response, which is generally slower due to multiple steps involved.

Not the question you are looking for? Ask here!

Enter question by text

Enter question by image

Unlock Smarter Learning with AskSia Super!

Join Super, our all-in-one AI solution that can greatly improve your learning efficiency.

30% higher accuracy than GPT-4o
Entire learning journey support
The most student-friendly features
Study Other Question