Ligand-Binding Basics

Evaluating Intermolecular Affinity, Specificity, Stoichiometry, and Cooperativity

Jannette Carey

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN: 9781119878421
• eBook ISBN: 9781119878476
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Physical & Theoretical Chemistry

A concise and accessible textbook covering ligand-binding theory in chemistry, biology, and drug development

In Ligand-binding Basics: Evaluating Intermolecular Affinity, Specificity, Stoichiometry, and Cooperativity, accomplished chemist Professor Jannette Carey introduces ligand binding in a thorough and practical way for those new to the topic, as well as anyone seeking a connection between theory and experiment. Using a minimum of mathematical formalism, this book offers analytical rigor while remaining accessible to non-specialist practitioners. It provides readers with the skills they need to analyze their own binding data or published results, helping them develop an intuitive grasp of ligand-binding phenomena integrated with structural and thermodynamic understanding.

Topics covered include:

• Application of the principles of equilibrium, mass action, and mass balance to derive the basic equations that describe all binding processes
• Recommended approaches for plotting and graphical analysis of binding data
• Strategies for designing, analyzing, interpreting, and troubleshooting experiments from the perspective of ligand-binding theory
• Review of selected examples that illustrate integration of structural and thermodynamic analysis

Perfect for students and educators in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical science, Ligand-binding Basics will also appeal to practitioners who aim to study ligand binding in any molecular system.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright
• About the Cover
• Introduction
• 1 The Biology of Molecules
• 2 General Theory for Reversible Ligand Binding
• 3 Graphical Analysis
• 4 Binding of Multiple Ligands
• 5 How to Determineand Molar Ratio Experimentally
• 6 Cooperativity
• 7 Theoretical and Method‐specific Troubleshooting
• 8 Allostery
• 9 Lessons on Affinity and Specificity from Host/Guest Chemistry
• 10 Reconciling Structure and Thermodynamics in Molecular Interactions
• 11 Applications in Modern Drug Development
• Appendix A: Ligand‐binding Study Questions
• Appendix B: Thought Experiments
• Appendix C: Derivations
• Appendix D: Simulation and Fitting
• Appendix E: About the Hill Equation
• Appendix F: Stereo Viewing
• Bibliography
• Index
• End User License Agreement