Functions other than movement - receptors and signals

• Glycoproteins and glycolipids act as receptors for cell recognition - antigens ( immune system) and communication ( cell signalling )
• Can be receptors where drugs, hormones and antibodies bind and they can also stabilise the membrane by forming hydrogen bonds with surrounding water molecules
• Drugs can work by binding to cell membrane receptors, triggering a response inside the cell or blocking the receptors
• Histamine is released in response to cell damage, it binds to surface receptors triggering the inflammation response
• Other glycoproteins act to join cells into tissue or help to present molecules to the immune system cells
• Glucose levels:

  If glucose level is high :

  • pancreas releases insulin and binds to receptors - muscle and liver cells
  • cells more permeable - uptake glucose, glucose turns to glycogen and increased respiration means glucose is used