Great, now I have mad cow proteins in my cell
Larry and the Legend of the Ligand Key
Submitted 3 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to science_memes@mander.xyz
https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/8d761dad-9e2f-4dfe-9a27-1f1c6eca4da0.jpeg
Comments
Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 3 months ago
Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 3 months ago
What is this? A comic for ANTs?
Glitch@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 months ago
I like this
Aquilae@hexbear.net 3 months ago
I knew taking bio would be useful at some point
abfarid@startrek.website 3 months ago
Halp. Biochemistry is not my strong suit.
AltheaHunter@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
The large purple rectangle is a protein channel across a cell membrane. It’s normally closed, but can be opened by binding to a specific small molecule, which is called a ligand. Different channels have different ligands, and their presence/absence controls whether the channels will open.
In the cartoon Larry the ligand has been traveling with his friends, who represent the cargo to be transferred through that channel. When they reach the closed channel, Larry uses himself as the “key” to open the channel. Since channels usually only stay open while the ligand is still bound, Larry stays behind to keep the channel open while his friends make their way forward.
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I had the reverse problem, where I’m basically aware of all of the above, but I stared at it for like five straight minutes trying to figure out if there was a deeper joke relating to what the molecules were actually supposed to be, but I think I read too far into it.
abfarid@startrek.website 3 months ago
Thank you very much!
I assume that only Larry type molecules were supposed to enter the cell?
stelelor@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
The joke would have worked a lot better if Larry’s friends were different shapes. There’s no visual reason why Larry is the only one that can act as the key.
abbadon420@lemm.ee 3 months ago
It fits, it sits