Post Lab Lecture Flashcards
What is the definition of an agonist?
A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response - it increases or decreases the activity of a cell
What is the definition of an antagonist?
A drug that binds to a receptor and does not produce a response but reduces the response to an agonist
In a concentration-response curve what are the units of response?
Millimetres
Describe the affinity of an agonist
An experimental value that refers to the force of attraction between the ligand and the receptor in the absence of an antagonist
Does an antagonist affect the potency of affinity of an agonist?
The potency because it will take more agonist to get a certain response but it will not affect the affinity
How are the potency and affinity of an agonist related?
If you have high affinity between a receptor and an agonist you will need less of it to produce a certain response and therefore it will be less potent
How are the potency and affinity of an agonist related?
If you have high affinity between a receptor and an agonist you will need less of it to produce a certain response and therefore it has a higher potency
If a curve for an agonist is further to the right than another will it have a higher or lower potency and why?
It will have a lower potency because a higher concentration is required for it to produce a certain response and therefore if concentration is on the X axis the agonist with higher potency will be further right than one with a lower potency
If a curve for an agonist is further to the right than another will it have a higher or lower potency and why?
It will have a lower potency because a higher concentration is required for it to produce a certain response and therefore if concentration is on the X axis the agonist with lower potency will be further right than one with a higher potency
Do partial agonists not have a maximum response?
No they do have a maximum response its just not the maximum response we know the tissue can produce
