The Binding and Activation Steps

One example of this possible existence of a hierarchy of receptor states has been discussed by Frauenfelder (1988). He reviewed studies on the binding of substrates and ligands to myoglobin. The process follows a power law, characterizing the protein as a complex system. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses revealed a number of conformational substates. 

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The binding and activation steps of receptor action have been dissected computationally, although not yet in a global fashion. The conformational dynamics of the activation of the A3AR have been approximated with respect to isolated portions of the receptor. 

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