Course in Receptor Biology

Receptors are nature's transducers-they detect circulating hormones or substances released
by nerve activity and elicit a biological response. Receptors serve fundamental roles in
recognition and communication; they pervade endocrinology, enzymology and sensory
physiology. Thus they provide the basic mechanism by which living things gain information
about their environment and integrate the functioning of their own systems.
Unit -I
Introduction to receptor - Regulation of receptors - application of receptors in biology-
Examples of receptors, Autocrine, Paracrine and Endocrine models - Action- Characterization of
receptors.
Unit -II
Signal transduction mechanisms for plasma - membrane receptors- Introduction - classification
- Adenylyl cyclase and cyclic AMP- Guanylyl cyclase and cyclic GMP- Ion channels controlled
by G proteins - Calcium as a second messenger.
Unit -III
Receptors for Immunoglobulin- Introduction - Receptors for Immunoglobulin IgE - Nature of the
IgE receptor - Function of the IgE receptor.
Unit -IV
Hormone receptors - Introduction - Mechanism of hormone action -Thyroid hormone receptors-
Events elicited by hormone - receptor binding.
Unit -V
Vertebrate visual photoreceptors - Rhodopsin - Photo transduction - Nicotinic acetylcholine
receptor - Structure and function - Receptor phosphorylation - Steroid receptors and membrane
receptors.