Análise bioquímica e estrutural dos mecanismos moleculares de sinalização de neurotransmissores e hormônios: revisão bibliográfica

Abstract

Cell communication is an essential process for maintaining homeostasis and coordinating the physiological functions of living organisms. It is primarily mediated by neurotransmitters and hormones that interact with specific cellular receptors. In this context, the present study investigated how the molecular structure of the components involved in neurotransmitter and hormone signaling influences the biochemical mechanisms responsible for signal transduction and amplification. The general objective was to analyze, through an integrative literature review, the influence of the molecular structure of neurotransmitters, hormones, and their receptors on signal transduction and amplification, highlighting the relationship between their structural characteristics and intracellular communication processes. This study is characterized as a bibliographic research with a qualitative and descriptive approach, based on scientific articles published between 2016 and 2026, retrieved from Google Scholar and the CAPES Journals Portal. Initially, 91 studies were identified, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 articles composed the final sample. The results demonstrated that the molecular structure of ligands and receptors determines the specificity of molecular recognition, the activation of signaling proteins, and the production of second messengers, such as cAMP, IP3, and DAG, which are responsible for signal amplification. The findings also showed that alterations in these mechanisms are associated with the development of several diseases and that understanding the relationship between molecular structure and function contributes to the development of more selective and effective drugs. It is concluded that the structural organization of neurotransmitters, hormones, and receptors directly influences the biochemical mechanisms of cell communication, highlighting the importance of this knowledge for advances in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Medicinal Chemistry.