A
receptor is a protein or a protein complex in or on a cell that
specifically recognizes and binds to a compound acting as a molecular
messenger (neurotransmitter, hormone, lymphokine, lectin,
drug,
etc).
In a broader sense, the term
receptor is often used as a synonym for
any specific (as opposed to non-specific such as binding to plasma
proteins)
drugbinding site, also including
nucleic acids such as
DNA.
Source:
PAC, 1997, 69, 1137
(Glossary of terms used in computational drug design (IUPAC Recommendations 1997))
on page 1149