Affinity Fingerprinting - A novel approach to quantitative chemical classification proves useful in drug discovery

摘要

We often think that a ligand binding to its target is finding the key that fits a lock. While this simile is useful for describing the complementarity of binding surfaces, it breaks -down when one considers that there are literally thousands of ligands that can bind to a particular target--with varying affinities. The emerging field of combinatoriai chemistry is now teaching us to think of ligand binding as a continuum of specificities; There is not just one key that fits the lock, but many and different keys may even have the same functionality. Drug developers have recognized the importance of this type of cross-reactivity for year's. Careful documentation of this phenomenon for known drugs is one explanation of their unwanted clinical side effects.