An agonist is a molecule that attaches to a receptor and switches it on, producing the same kind of response the body's own molecule would. In the lock and key image, an agonist is a key that both fits the lock and turns it. A partial agonist turns it only part of the way, giving a smaller response even when every available receptor is occupied.

Why it matters here

A great many mechanism labels on this site end in the word agonism. Those labels are naming this relationship at a receptor, not describing a benefit, and reading them as an outcome is the easiest mistake to make on a compound page.

Also called

• agonist
• agonists
• agonism
• receptor agonist
• full agonist
• partial agonist

Compounds carrying this term

None on file yet. This term is in the controlled vocabulary but no compound record currently uses it — which is a statement about our coverage, not about the term.

See also

• Receptor — Body and drug basics
• Antagonist — Body and drug basics
• Downregulation — Body and drug basics
• Binding affinity — Body and drug basics