So how does this work?
The receptors are on the outside, and capture "the complex" (presumably aspartate/serine, etc.?) before drawing it into the membrane...does the cell then absorb these complexes, or does it just "tell" the cytoplasmic part about what it's found?
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 12 Jan 2011, 14:25, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

I have no idea.
But I probably should.
If you're genuinely interested, I can link you to the review if you like
(Applebite Uh! A cow!, Wed 12 Jan 2011, 14:27, Reply)

I expect most of it would go over my head, but thanks all the same
It has been some years since I came close to anything biochemical. Just thought I'd humour you for a bit as it's usually helps learning these things if you talk about them to someone else. Even if this means you end up basically having a conversation with yourself whilst they nod politely and start to worry.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 12 Jan 2011, 14:30, Reply)

not as such
they methylate or demethylate some residues (slips my mind which) on an internal protein complex in response to the presence or absense of "stuff" outside the cell - the complex acts through the cell membrane - and the level of methylation allows the cell a brief "memory", effectively, of the concentration of "stuff" outside the cell, so the cell can sense concentration gradients in "stuff" and know if it is moving itself towards or away from the "stuff" - which helps for foods and toxins.

/biochemistry of "stuff" and "moving" by TMB, aged 35 1/3.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 12 Jan 2011, 14:44, Reply)