Receptor-Ligand Interactions: A Practical Approach

This book is the final part of a trilogy of volumes covering the practical aspects of ligand interactions, biochemistry, and effector mechanisms of signal-transducing receptors. The book focuses on the measurement of receptor binding interactions both at equilibrium and from the kinetic point of view. It includes descriptions of the most important techniques for the performance of ligand binding assays to both membrane-bound and solubilized receptors. In addition to which, a systematic effort has been made to provide insight into the strategy and tactics of receptor binding assays, and the conditions which must be satisfied if artifacts are to be avoided and interpretable data obtained. Since the behaviour of even the simplest receptor systems can be surprisingly complex, an attempt has been made to provide some computational tools which allow complications to be predicted and handled or avoided. Ligand binding assays are very widely used, not least in drug screening and development. This volume will help the practitioner to choose an appropriate ligand, make a suitable receptor preparation, design and perform a well thought out set of assays, and analyse the data obtained correctly.