antagonist
Muscle that counteracts the action of another muscle; when one contracts, the other relaxes
In biology, an antagonist refers to a molecule or drug that can bind to a receptor site on a cell and block the function of an endogenous ligand or agonist. This essentially means that an antagonist inhibits or reduces the physiological response that would normally occur in the absence of the antagonist.
Antagonists are commonly used in pharmacology to treat a variety of conditions. For example, some drugs that act as antagonists at dopamine receptors are used to treat schizophrenia, while others that act as antagonists at histamine receptors are used to treat allergies.
It is important to note that not all antagonists are drugs or artificial molecules. Some naturally occurring compounds, such as toxins produced by certain plants or animals, can also function as antagonists. For example, the molecule curare found in some Amazonian plants acts as an antagonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and is used by indigenous hunters to paralyze prey.
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