Positive allosteric modulator
Encyclopedia
A positive allosteric modulator (PAM) is a drug
which increases the activity of a receptor
indirectly via activation of an allosteric site on the protein
. PAMs are similar to agonist
s in that they contribute to overall receptor activation, but they are different because they do so in a functionally distinctive way.
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
which increases the activity of a receptor
Receptor (biochemistry)
In biochemistry, a receptor is a molecule found on the surface of a cell, which receives specific chemical signals from neighbouring cells or the wider environment within an organism...
indirectly via activation of an allosteric site on the protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
. PAMs are similar to agonist
Agonist
An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance...
s in that they contribute to overall receptor activation, but they are different because they do so in a functionally distinctive way.