Skip to main content

Hormone-Receptor Handshake

Meaning

The Hormone-Receptor Handshake is a conceptual metaphor used in endocrinology to describe the highly specific, lock-and-key interaction between a circulating hormone (the ligand) and its cognate receptor protein on or within a target cell. This precise molecular recognition is the essential first step in all hormonal signaling, ensuring that the hormone’s message is delivered exclusively to the intended cells. The fidelity of this ‘handshake’ determines the biological specificity and potency of the endocrine signal. Understanding this interaction is foundational to therapeutic hormone replacement and pharmacological intervention.