Receptor identification

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the methods of receptor identification for receptors localized on the cell surface. Receptors play a key role in regulating cellular processes by enabling the cell to interact with the outside environment. A receptor is a molecular entity on the target tissue that, when occupied by an agonist, initiates a biological response.Purification of a protein is an essential step if one has to determine its amino acid sequence by traditional methods. Receptor proteins are, however, large, poorly soluble in aqueous media, and partially buried in the lipid environment of the cell membrane. Hence, the first step in purifying a receptor protein involves solubilization of the membrane receptor as described in the chapter, solubilization of receptors. When multiple sources of tissues are available for receptor purification, their specific binding capacities may be used as a guide to choosing the tissue most likely to provide the best yield of receptor. © 1990, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.