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Binding site

 

 
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Binding site
 
 
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In biochemistry
Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry processes in living organisms. It deals with the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules....
, a binding site is a region on a protein
Protein

Proteins are organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid Residue ....
, DNA
DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetics instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses....
, or RNA
RNA

Ribonucleic acid is a type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nucleobase, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate....
 to which specific other molecules and ions — in this context collectively called ligands
Ligand (biochemistry)

In biochemistry, a ligand is a Chemical substance that is able to bind to and form a Complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose....
, or more specifically, protein ligands
Protein ligands

In biochemistry, a protein ligand is an atom, a molecule or an ion which can bind to a specific site on a protein. Interactions between any protein and its ligands are fundamental and essential for the protein to function properly....
 — form a chemical bond
Chemical bond

A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds....
.

The term saturation refers to the fraction of total binding sites that are occupied at any given time.






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In biochemistry
Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry processes in living organisms. It deals with the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules....
, a binding site is a region on a protein
Protein

Proteins are organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid Residue ....
, DNA
DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetics instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses....
, or RNA
RNA

Ribonucleic acid is a type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nucleobase, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate....
 to which specific other molecules and ions — in this context collectively called ligands
Ligand (biochemistry)

In biochemistry, a ligand is a Chemical substance that is able to bind to and form a Complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose....
, or more specifically, protein ligands
Protein ligands

In biochemistry, a protein ligand is an atom, a molecule or an ion which can bind to a specific site on a protein. Interactions between any protein and its ligands are fundamental and essential for the protein to function properly....
 — form a chemical bond
Chemical bond

A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds....
.

The term saturation refers to the fraction of total binding sites that are occupied at any given time. When more than one type of ligand can bind to a binding site, competition
Competition

Competition is a rivalry between individuals, groups, nations, or animals, for territory, a niche, or allocation of resources. It arises whenever two or more parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared....
 ensues.

An equilibrium
Chemical equilibrium

In a chemical process, chemical equilibrium is the state in which the Activity or concentrations of the reactants and products have no net change over time....
 exists between unbound ligands and bound ligands.

Binding sites also exhibit chemical specificity
Chemical specificity

Chemical specificity is the ability of a protein's binding site to bind specific ligand s. The fewer ligands a protein can bind, the greater its specificity....
, a measure of the types of ligands that will bond, and affinity
Affinity

Affinity, in etymology affinity is the opposite of infinity . These two words have the same root coming from the Latin: finis = end....
, which is a measure of the strength of the chemical bond.

A more specific type of binding site is the transcription factor binding site
Transcription factor

In the field of molecular biology, a transcription factor is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequence and thereby controls the transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA....
, present on DNA.

See also

  • NTP binding site
    NTP binding site

    An NTP binding site is a type of binding site found in nucleoside monophosphate kinases, N can be adenosine or guanosine. A P-loop is one of the structural motifs common for nucleoside triphosphate binding sites, it interacts with the bound nucleotide's phosphoryl groups....