Receptors are proteins that receive chemical signals and induce cellular responses. There are several types of receptors including ion channel receptors, G-protein coupled receptors, kinase-linked receptors, and intracellular receptors. Ion channel receptors bind messengers and undergo a conformational change that opens or closes an ion channel, altering ion flow across the cell membrane. G-protein coupled receptors interact with G-proteins to activate intracellular signaling pathways. Kinase-linked receptors have an enzymatic domain that is activated upon messenger binding to induce phosphorylation events in the cell. Intracellular receptors bind steroid hormones that enter the cell and regulate gene expression.