Metabotropic receptor

Definition

Metabotropic receptors are a type of receptor on the cell membrane that initiates a series of metabolic steps to modulate cellular activity in response to a neurotransmitter. Unlike ionotropic receptors, they do not form an ion channel pore but activate signal transduction pathways involving G proteins and second messengers.

Related terms

Neurotransmitter:

Chemical substances released by neurons that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

G Protein:

A family of proteins that act as molecular switches inside cells, involved in transmitting signals from stimuli outside the cell to its interior.

Second Messenger: Small molecules or ions that relay signals received by receptors on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell, leading to changes in cellular function