Receptoron

Receptoron is a term used in speculative biology and science fiction to denote a hypothetical class of cell-surface receptors that mediate signal transduction by binding extracellular ligands and translating that binding into intracellular responses. The term is not part of standard taxonomies in mainstream biology and is typically encountered in theoretical discussions, design frameworks, or narrative contexts.

In conceptual models, receptorons are described as modular proteins with three general parts: an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic signaling module. Ligand binding is proposed to induce a conformational change or oligomerization that recruits signaling partners such as kinases, adaptors, or scaffolds, triggering downstream pathways.

Scholarly and educational uses treat receptorons as a design principle rather than a defined real-world class. In synthetic biology, they serve as templates for programmable receptors whose output can be wired to control gene expression, metabolic flux, or cell fate. In fiction and thought experiments, receptorons offer a flexible device to imagine complex sensing and decision-making in cells.

Because they are not an established biological category, there are no standardized experimental methods or canonical examples. Receptoron concepts are discussed alongside real receptor families for comparison, emphasizing modularity and the integration of sensing and signaling. See also: receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase, G protein-coupled receptor, ligand-gated ion channel, signal transduction.