To interact with intracellular receptors, ligands must be what?

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Multiple Choice

To interact with intracellular receptors, ligands must be what?

Explanation:
Intracellular receptors sit inside the cell, so the ligand must cross the cell membrane to reach them. The membrane’s interior is hydrophobic, so only lipid-soluble (lipophilic) molecules can diffuse through readily. That makes lipid solubility essential for interacting with intracellular receptors. Water-soluble ligands, large proteins, or charged molecules struggle to cross the membrane and thus are not suitable for engaging these receptors. Steroid and thyroid hormone-like ligands are classic examples of this, since they can diffuse through the membrane and bind receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus to influence gene expression.

Intracellular receptors sit inside the cell, so the ligand must cross the cell membrane to reach them. The membrane’s interior is hydrophobic, so only lipid-soluble (lipophilic) molecules can diffuse through readily. That makes lipid solubility essential for interacting with intracellular receptors. Water-soluble ligands, large proteins, or charged molecules struggle to cross the membrane and thus are not suitable for engaging these receptors. Steroid and thyroid hormone-like ligands are classic examples of this, since they can diffuse through the membrane and bind receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus to influence gene expression.

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