drugs

• many drugs work by binding to receptors on the cell membrane. they either trigger a response in the cell or block the receptor preventing it from working
• its important to understand how cells communicate with membrane-bound receptors as it helps developing medical drugs because the receptors can be used as sites for targeted action
• e.g. morphine - body produces a chemical called endorphins to relieve pain which bind to opioid receptors in the brain reducing transmission of pain signals.

  morphine is a drug used to relieve pain, works by binding to the same opioid receptors as endorphins triggering a reduction of pain signals
• e.g. Antihistamines - cell damage causes the release of a chemical called histamine which binds to receptors on surfaces of other cells causing inflammation.

  antihistamines work by blocking the histamine receptors on the cell surface, stopping inflammation