Neurotransmitter receptor proteins and sensory receptor proteins both play crucial roles in cellular communication, responding to external signals to elicit physiological responses. A key similarity is that both types of receptors initiate signal transduction pathways upon ligand binding. However, a major difference lies in their functions: neurotransmitter receptors primarily mediate synaptic transmission in the nervous system, while sensory receptors are specialized for detecting environmental stimuli.

1. Compare and contrast neurotransmitter receptor proteins with sensory receptor proteins,
naming at least one important similarity and one important difference