Chemicals and Drugs

Ligands

A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed)

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Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Ligand

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

IM general only; usually NIM with specific compound IM

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History Note

74(73)

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Previous Indexing

  • Metals (1966-1972)
  • Organometallic Compounds (1968-1972)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D27.720.470.480w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Ligands. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D008024. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D008024
  2. Ligands. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligand
  3. Ligands. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193161