Eli5: If caffeine connects to the same receptors as adenosine, why does it have the opposite effect?

Question

I understand that it doesn’t allow adenosine to connect to the receptors, but if the receptor doesn’t know which molecule connected, it should unleash the same reaction, right?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Thats because your idea is wrong, not every molecule causes a reaction when connected its only agonists that cause the receptor to change what its doing. Caffeine probably is an antagonist which stops the action of that receptor but I didnt look into what adenosine or caffeine does exactly.