Protein Binding Problems

Leach, A.G., et al. Matched molecular pairs as a guide in the optimization of pharmaceutical properties A Study of aqueous solubihty, plasma protein binding, and oral exposure. J. Med. Chem. 2006, 49, 6672-6682. Chemists grappling with protein binding problems are urged to read this paper. 

This equation illustrates the components of a competitive protein binding assay system. That is, the reaction system contains both radioactive and non-radioactive free ligand (P and P) and both radioactive and non-radioactive protein bound ligand (P Q and PQ). This type of assay assumes that binding protein will have the same affinity for the labeled or non-labeled material that is being measured. Although this assumption is not always completely valid, it usually causes no problems of consequence with most radioassays or radioimmunoassays. 

While much care has to be used in performing competitive protein binding assays, most well-equipped and staffed clinical laboratories should have no serious problem in undertaking such assays. The biggest problem that may be encountered is the selection of a dependable and reliable manufacturer for reagents. Problems that may arise are non-purity of standards and label non-specificity of antibodies or the inability to maintain any of these characteristics from lot to lot. It therefore is a good practice to evaulate a few manufacturers before selecting one for routine use. 

To illustrate these methods, we consider the main biological problems that have motivated their development. The problems that have received the most attention are the receptor-ligand binding problem [12-16] and the calculation of proton binding affinities (pKa shifts) [17-20], The methods described can also be applied to many related problems, such as redox protein behavior, protein-protein association, protein folding, or membrane insertion. 

The first applications in calibration problems appear to have been in the field of competitive protein binding assays. Marschner (19) have introduced the concept of smoothing... 

Methotrexate clearance can be decreased by the coadministration of NSAIDs however, this not usually a problem with the low doses of methotrexate used to treat arthritis. Methotrexate can be displaced from plasma protein binding sites by phenylbutazone, pheny-toin, sulfonylureas, and sulfonamides and certain other antibiotics. The antifolate effects of methotrexate are additive with those of other folate-inhibitory drugs, such as trimethoprim. 

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