Peptide hormones are protein or peptide molecules that act on the endocrine system by binding to membrane receptors on target cells. This triggers a second messenger system where the receptor activates a G-protein that then activates an enzyme to produce a small molecule messenger, like cAMP, inside the cell. This second messenger goes on to activate other enzymes and trigger physiological responses in the target cell. The key aspects of peptide hormone action are that they bind membrane receptors which then activate a G-protein and downstream production of a second messenger molecule to produce effects in the target cell.