medium · LSAT Reading Comprehension

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a massive family of proteins found on the surface of cells, acting as the primary gatekeepers of cellular communication. When a specific molecule, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter, binds to the exterior portion of the GPCR, the receptor undergoes a conformational change. This change allows it to activate a G-protein inside the cell, which then triggers a cascade of internal signals leading to a physiological response, such as a change in heart rate or the sensation of light. Because GPCRs are involved in almost every physiological process, they are the target of approximately one-third of all modern pharmaceuticals. However, drugs that target GPCRs often cause side effects because a single type of receptor might be located in multiple organs, leading to unintended reactions in tissues other than the one being treated.

A researcher is developing a drug to treat a specific lung condition by targeting a GPCR that regulates airway constriction. If the researcher's goal is to minimize side effects, which of the following findings would be most problematic?

  1. The same receptor the drug targets is also abundant in heart and digestive-tract tissue.
  2. The targeted receptor occurs only on lung cells and nowhere else in the body.
  3. The drug needs several hours to trigger the receptor's conformational change.
  4. The drug binds the receptor's external molecule-binding site rather than the internal G-protein.
  5. Roughly a third of all current pharmaceuticals act on GPCRs of one kind or another.

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