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Since hormone receptors have a very high affinity for their ligands, they______

a. have small dissociation constants.
b. form stable interactions.
c. have low turnover.
d. All of the answers are correct.

User Chongman
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Hormone receptors display a high affinity for their ligands, resulting in small dissociation constants, stable interactions, and low turnover rates. These tightly bound receptor-ligand interactions are enduring and typically lead to significant cellular changes, such as the regulation of transcription.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hormone receptors display a high affinity for their ligands, meaning that they bind very tightly to these signaling molecules. When considering the nature of this interaction, several characteristics can be observed. Firstly, because the receptors have a high affinity, they form stable interactions with the ligand, and this is indicative of a small dissociation constant. A small dissociation constant means that the ligand-receptor complex is less likely to dissociate, or come apart, which directly relates to the stability of the bound state.

Moreover, these receptors tend to have low turnover because their ligand-bound states are quite persistent. This longevity of the ligand-receptor interaction diminishes the need for frequent synthesis of new receptors. Additionally, the receptors can mediate changes in the target cells, often by acting as transcription regulators when hormones are present. This is a crucial aspect as it informs about the mechanism of action at a cellular level.

In conclusion, all of the provided statements are correct: hormone receptors have small dissociation constants, form stable interactions, and have low turnover due to their high affinity for their ligands.

User Paul Siersma
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