A concise and accessible textbook covering ligand-binding theory in chemistry, biology, and drug development

In Ligand-binding Basics: Evaluating Intermolecular Affinity, Specificity, Stoichiometry, and Cooperativity, accomplished chemist Professor Jannette Carey introduces ligand binding in a thorough and practical way for those new to the topic, as well as anyone seeking a connection between theory and experiment. Using a minimum of mathematical formalism, this book offers analytical rigor while remaining accessible to non-specialist practitioners. It provides readers with the skills they need to analyze their own binding data or published results, helping them develop an intuitive grasp of ligand-binding phenomena integrated with structural and thermodynamic understanding.

Topics covered include:

• Application of the principles of equilibrium, mass action, and mass balance to derive the basic equations that describe all binding processes
• Recommended approaches for plotting and graphical analysis of binding data
• Strategies for designing, analyzing, interpreting, and troubleshooting experiments from the perspective of ligand-binding theory
• Review of selected examples that illustrate integration of structural and thermodynamic analysis

Perfect for students and educators in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical science, Ligand-binding Basics will also appeal to practitioners who aim to study ligand binding in any molecular system.

Jannette Carey has been a member of the Chemistry faculty at Princeton University for over thirty years, where she developed and teaches a two-term sequence in biophysical chemistry that is accessible to early graduate and advanced undergraduate students in a wide range of disciplines. Her biophysical research is focused on unifying the thermodynamic and structural basis for macromolecular interactions.