Backward Binding and Other Structural Surprises

Biographics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA 77843-2128

From simple to highly complex molecules, examples are cited of 'backward' or retro- binding. In some cases, symmetry dictates the directions observed and in cases not treated here, statistical disorder reveals averaged, forward/backward binding. In most of the cases found, both the receptor and the ligand(s) are asymmetric, so local interactions dictate the preferred binding mode. A general rationale is presented to explain some of these observations and an hypothesis derived from this review can be tested experimentally.

"Backwards Binding and Other Structural Surprises", E. F. Meyer, I.Botos, L.Scapozza & D.Zhang (1995), Perspectives in Drug Discovery and Design, 3:168-195.

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