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ligand

[C] Đếm được

Số nhiều: ligands

This term describes a molecular partner that seeks out and attaches to a specific target. In inorganic chemistry, it evokes the image of a central metal hub surrounded by satellite molecules that donate electrons to stabilize the structure. In biochemistry, the term shifts toward a lock-and-key mechanism. It describes the specific trigger molecule that fits into a protein receptor, effectively flipping a biological switch to initiate a signal within a cell.

Used to count individual molecules or types of chemical species that bind to a center, such as identifying three different ligands in a complex.

Ý nghĩa

Danh từ

"The chloride ion acts as a ligand in this chemical reaction."

Danh từ

A molecule that binds specifically to a receptor site on a protein to serve as a signal.

"The hormone acts as a ligand that triggers the cellular response."

Last Updated: May 27, 2026•Report an Error