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Agonist Vs Antagonist

Meaning

An agonist is a substance that binds to a specific cellular receptor and triggers a biological response, mimicking the action of a natural ligand. Conversely, an antagonist is a substance that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, instead blocking the binding of agonists and preventing their biological effect. These two classifications describe molecules that exert opposing influences on cellular signaling pathways, fundamentally impacting physiological regulation.