Question

While characterizing the effects of medical marijuana, researchers have discovered a new type of channel that contains a binding site for the active ingredient, THC, on the outside of the cell. This new receptor could be classified as ____________.

Answer 1

The new receptor discovered that contains a binding site for THC on the outside of the cell can be classified as an ionotropic receptor, which opens upon ligand binding and allows ions to change the membrane's charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

While characterizing the effects of medical marijuana, researchers have discovered a new type of channel that contains a binding site for THC on the outside of the cell. This new receptor could be classified as an ionotropic receptor. Ionotropic receptors are also known as ligand-gated channels, and they open when a ligand, such as THC, binds to the extracellular region of the channel. The binding of the ligand allows ions to cross the membrane, changing its charge and initiating a cellular response. This is significant as it might lead to the development of new drugs that can target these specific channels for therapeutic effects in various conditions treated with medical marijuana, such as nausea from chemotherapy, appetite loss from AIDS, and severe childhood epilepsy.