Eicosanoid Hormones

[victorias]

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Since eicosanoid hormones are long carbon chains - I am thinking that they are non polar. why are the receptors for this type of hormone on the extracellular cell surface (just like a peptide hormone)?

 

[aldol16]

The receptors kind of have to be on the extracellular surface for anything to get through the membrane. Unless that substance can diffuse through but eicosanoids are pretty big. Just think of a prostaglandin or thromboxane. Where else would the receptors be?

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Eicosanoids are highly functionalized, so while they have 20 Cs, they also have four hydrophilic groups. They are generally amphipathic molecules.