Exact analysis of ligand-induced dimerization of monomeric receptors

Anal Chem. 2008 Jul 15;80(14):5550-5. doi: 10.1021/ac800578w. Epub 2008 Jun 11.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the equilibria involved in the dimerization of monomeric receptors with homo-bifunctional ligands. We provide analytical expressions that can be used to estimate the concentration of each species present in a mixture of homo-bifunctional ligand and monomeric proteins, given initial conditions defining the total concentration of bivalent ligand [L2]0, the total concentration of protein [P]0, one dissociation constant Kd, and a parameter to account for cooperativity alpha. We demonstrate that the fraction of protein present in a complex of two proteins and one bivalent ligand (P x L2 x P) is maximized at [L2]0 = Kd/2 + [P]0/2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimerization
  • Ligands
  • Models, Biological*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Ligands