Term Name: receptor ligand activity
Synonyms: receptor agonist activity, receptor ligand activity, signaling molecule, signaling receptor ligand activity
Definition: The activity of a gene product that interacts with a receptor to effect a change in the activity of the receptor. Ligands may be produced by the same cell that expresses the receptor. Ligands may also be expressed at the plasma membrane of an adjacent cell (e.g. Notch ligands) or be secreted and diffuse extracellularly from their point of origin to the receiving cell (e.g. interleukins).
Ontology: GO: Molecular Function [GO:0048018]    QuickGO    AmiGO

Relationships
is part of: signal transduction
is a type of: signaling receptor activator activity signaling receptor binding
has subtype: chemoattractant activity chemorepellent activity cytokine activity death receptor agonist activity growth factor activity hormone activity morphogen activity neuropeptide activity opioid peptide activity pathogen-derived receptor ligand activity pheromone activity
negatively regulated by: receptor ligand inhibitor activity