"Receptor molecules" are proteins found in our bodies that act like doorways or locks to receive specific signals or messages from other molecules. They help cells communicate and perform important functions in our body. Full definition
These attachments are what turn hormones into specialized molecules, allowing them to plug into receptor molecules throughout the body, turning on and off much of the cellular behavior that makes us tick. (asensia.com)
The exterior surface of the membrane is dotted with receptor molecules — switches which growth factors can flip on from the outside to transmit growth cues into the cell's interior. (cshl.edu)
The unaltered hemagglutinin is akin to a key that unlocks a so - called receptor molecule in cells lining the upper airways of humans and other mammals. (scientificamerican.com)