Stability constants carbohydrate ligands

Discussion of the effect of ligand structure on protein-carbohydrate affinity requires an evaluation of complex stability constants. A munber of biophysical techniques are appropriate for the study of protein-carbohydrate interaction many of the more enlightening strategies are the topics of separate chapters elsewhere in this volume. We describe below three techniques used extensively in glycobiology— inhibition of hemagglutination, enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA), and isothermal titration microcalorimetry—and we consider the types of information provided by each technique in order to facilitate appropriate interpretation of the data. 

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