Ligand-Receptor Energetics

This clearly written guide presents different approaches for studying the biological activities involved when small and large molecules (ligands and receptors) interact to form complex macromolecules (such as proteins). It provides the background principles necessary for interpreting experimental results.

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A foundation for quantitative perspectives and a framework for interpreting experimental observations.

Researchers in the life sciences who are unaware of the origins of the fundamental concepts and theoretical constructs in ligand-receptor energetics may fail to recognize the hidden assumptions and premises in their interpretations of observed phenomena. This book offers a detailed exposition of these fundamentals and of the treatment of multiple equilibria in successive steps of the binding of ligands to receptors. It also describes the calculations and meanings of energetic quantities for ligand-receptor complexes.

Ligand-Receptor Energetics is the only book on this topic that is both accessible to beginners and extremely useful for experienced investigators. It features numerous specific examples; tables of literature results; extensive, up-to-date thermodynamic data; graphical representations of ligand bonding concepts; and four helpful appendices. Topics covered include:
* Affinities -from site, stoichiometric, and ghost-site perspectives
* Facts and fantasies from graphical analyses
* Numerical evaluation of stoichiometric binding constants
* Affinity profiles
* Thermodynamic perspectives
* Forces of interaction
* Molecular scenarios.

This valuable supplementary text for students in all areas of the basic life sciences is also an excellent professional reference for researchers in biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, biophysics, microbiology, neurobiology, immunology, pharmacology, endocrinology, and toxicology.