Allosteric modulator
Allosteric Modulator
Allosteric modulator (pronunciation: al-uh-ster-ik mod-yuh-ley-ter) is a substance that indirectly influences (modulates) the effects of a primary ligand that directly activates or deactivates the function of a target protein.
Etymology
The term "allosteric modulator" is derived from the Greek words "allos" meaning "other" and "stereos" meaning "solid". This refers to the effect of the modulator on the protein's conformation or "solid" structure.
Function
An allosteric modulator binds to a protein at a site different from the active site of the primary ligand. This binding causes a conformational change in the protein, which can either enhance or inhibit the activity of the primary ligand. Allosteric modulators are important in many biological processes, including signal transduction, gene regulation, and enzyme activity.
Types
There are two main types of allosteric modulators: positive and negative. Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) enhance the activity of the primary ligand, while negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) inhibit the activity of the primary ligand.
Related Terms
- Allosteric site: The site on a protein where an allosteric modulator binds.
- Orthosteric site: The site on a protein where the primary ligand binds.
- Allosteric regulation: The regulation of a protein's activity through the binding of an allosteric modulator.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Allosteric modulator
- Wikipedia's article - Allosteric modulator
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