Ligand-receptor interactions, specific

Allosteric binding occurs when two molecules bind to different sites on the target. When the two molecules are identical, it is termed homotropic interaction. If the molecules differ from each other, it is termed heterotropic interaction. Binding is competitive when two different ligand molecules compete for the same site. We discuss ligand binding further in Chapter 3. The specificity of ligand-receptor interaction is illustrated in Exhibit 2.9. 

Receptors are glycoproteins imbedded in the lipid bilayer of neuronal membranes and can detect minute amounts of specific ligands (e.g., neurotransmitters, hormones). The ligand-receptor interaction sets in motion a transduction system (e.g., an enzyme, ion channel) that orchestrates various intracellular biochemical events. 

In the work described above, chemically distinct bilayer arrays were created with common aqueous solutions above them. Another important goal is to address aqueous solutions above an array of planar supported bilayers. In combination with surface specific detection, this strategy would enable the rapid screening of a library of soluble molecules for their efficacy in inhibiting ligand-receptor interactions in a fluid membrane environment that is similar to in vivo conditions.13... 

FIGURE 6.6. Schematic depiction of the screening assay for monitoring ligand-receptor interactions on a supported fluid lipid bilayer in the presence of a library of soluble inhibitors. Surface specific observation is achieved using TIRFM. 

N. Kasahara, A. M. Dozy, and Y. W. Kan, Tissue-specific targeting of retroviral vectors through ligand-receptor interactions, Science 266 1373 (1994). 

Ligand-receptor interaction is an important initial step in protein function. The structure of ligand-receptor complex profoundly affects the specificity and efficiency of protein action. The molecular docking performs the computational prediction of... 

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