Ligand: Difference between revisions

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A small [[Molecule|molecule]] or ion that binds to a [[Protein|protein]] or other structure. Binding of ligands to [[Ligand-gated_ion_channel|ligand-gated ion channels]] mediates synaptic transmission.
A small [[Molecule|molecule]] or [[Ion|ion]] that binds to a [[Protein|protein]] or other structure. Ligand binding can cause a [[Conformational change|conformational change]] in the shape of a protein, which can lead to the regulation of protein activity<ref>Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.</ref>.&nbsp;Binding of ligands to [[Ligand-gated ion channel|ligand-gated ion channels]] mediates [[Synaptic transmission|synaptic transmission]]. The specificity and affinity of a protein for a ligand depends on the structure of the ligand-binding site<ref>Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.</ref>. For reactions to occur, the shape and chemical properties of the binding site must be [[Complementary|complementary]] to that of the ligand molecule - this is known as molecular complementarity<ref>Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.</ref>. An example of protein-ligand binding is that of [[Antibodies|antibodies]] binding to [[Antigens|antigens]]<ref>Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.</ref>.  
 
'''References'''
 
<references />

Latest revision as of 12:54, 3 December 2017

A small molecule or ion that binds to a protein or other structure. Ligand binding can cause a conformational change in the shape of a protein, which can lead to the regulation of protein activity[1]. Binding of ligands to ligand-gated ion channels mediates synaptic transmission. The specificity and affinity of a protein for a ligand depends on the structure of the ligand-binding site[2]. For reactions to occur, the shape and chemical properties of the binding site must be complementary to that of the ligand molecule - this is known as molecular complementarity[3]. An example of protein-ligand binding is that of antibodies binding to antigens[4].

References

  1. Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.
  2. Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.
  3. Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.
  4. Lodish H, Kaiser CA, Bretcher A, Amon A, Berk A, Kneger M, Ploegh H, Scott MP. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th Ed, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. 2013.