Unbound states, protein-ligand binding

FIGURE 2.4 Modeling protein ligand binding involves the differences between solvated unbound and bound states. 

Both the AFM rupture experiments as well as our simulation studies focussed on the streptavidin-biotin complex as a model system for specific ligand binding. Streptavidin is a particularly well-studied protein and binds its ligand biotin with high affinity and specificity [51]. Whereas previous experiments (see references in Ref. [49]) and simulation studies [52] referred only to bound/unbound states and the associated kinetics, the recent AFM... 

This concept is demonstrated schematically in Figure 1.11. It can be seen that the initial bias in a system of proteins containing two conformations (square and spherical) lies far toward the square conformation. When a ligand (filled circles) enters the system and selectively binds to the circular conformations, this binding process removes the circles driving the backward reaction from circles back to squares. In the absence of this backward pressure, more square conformations flow into the circular state to fill the gap. Overall, there is an enrichment of the circular conformations when unbound and ligand-bound circular conformations are totaled. 

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