Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Ligand Binding Sites

Ligand Binding Sites

Proteins are dynamic macromolecules that carry out a wide variety of essential processes; however, the activities of most proteins depend on their interactions with other molecules or ions, known as ligands.
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...

Ligand Binding Sites

Ligand Binding Sites

Ligand Binding and Linkage

Ligand Binding and Linkage

Allosteric proteins have more than one ligand binding site; the binding of a ligand to any of these sites influences the binding of ligands to the other sites. When a protein is allosteric, its binding sites are called coupled or linked. In the case of enzymes, the site that binds to the substrate is known as the active site and the other site is known as the regulatory site. When a ligand binds to the regulatory site, this leads to conformational changes in the protein that can influence...

Ligand Binding and Linkage

Ligand Binding and Linkage

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...

Metal-Ligand Bonds

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Vestibular disorders and monoamine neurotransmitters: Current evidence.

iScience·2026

Same author

Migraine and auditory dysfunction: beyond comorbidity.

Journal of neurology·2026

Same author

Genetic association between renal function and hearing loss: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology·2026

Same author

Atomic-level protein-ligand recognition with PBCNet2.0 for probe discovery.

Nature chemical biology·2026

Same author

Mechanoelectrical metamaterials for broad-range, high-sensitivity pressure sensing.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same author

Structure-Guided Discovery of Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Werner Syndrome RecQ Helicase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Microsatellite Instability-High Tumors.

Journal of medicinal chemistry·2026

Same journal

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of C6-O-Glycosylated α-Mangostin Derivatives Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus With Enhanced Bacterial Membrane Selectivity.

ChemMedChem·2026

Same journal

Piperazine Derivatives Carrying an Imidazole Ring as Selective Modulators of Human Carbonic Anhydrase Isozymes.

ChemMedChem·2026

Same journal

Discovery of Ligands for the TNFR1 Extracellular Domain Using Fragment-Based Drug Discovery.

ChemMedChem·2026

Same journal

An Ugi-Joullié Platform for Medicinally Relevant 1,4-Dihydrobenzothiazines.

ChemMedChem·2026

Same journal

Metal-Drug Complexes as Long-Release Application for Antimalarial PfFNT-Inhibitors.

ChemMedChem·2026

Same journal

Speciation Studies of Monosubstituted Pt, Mo, and W Decavanadates in Culture Media and In Vitro Activity Against Trypanosoma cruzi.

ChemMedChem·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers

Published on: September 19, 2017

G-quadruplex structures and their interaction diversity with ligands.

Sulin Zhang¹, Yanling Wu, Wen Zhang

¹Lab of Chemical Biology & Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Rd, Hangzhou, 310014 (China).

|April 15, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

G-quadruplexes are unique DNA/RNA structures with therapeutic potential. This review explores their structural diversity and interactions with small molecules (G4-ligands) for drug development.

Keywords:

G-Quadruplexes drug design interaction diversity ligand effects polymorphism

More Related Videos

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Characterizing DNA G-Quadruplex by Bis-3-Chloropiperidine Based Chemical Mapping

Author Spotlight: Characterizing DNA G-Quadruplex by Bis-3-Chloropiperidine Based Chemical Mapping

Published on: May 12, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers

Published on: September 19, 2017

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Characterizing DNA G-Quadruplex by Bis-3-Chloropiperidine Based Chemical Mapping

Author Spotlight: Characterizing DNA G-Quadruplex by Bis-3-Chloropiperidine Based Chemical Mapping

Published on: May 12, 2023

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

G-quadruplexes are nucleic acid secondary structures formed by G-rich sequences.
These structures, involving G-tetrads, are found in human telomeres and genomes with demonstrated biological roles.
G-quadruplexes represent a promising target for novel drug design strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the structural polymorphism of G-quadruplexes.
To classify G-quadruplexes based on strand number and analyze their interactions with small molecules (G4-ligands).
To highlight challenges and future directions in G-quadruplex structure and ligand research for therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on G-quadruplex structural classification.
Analysis of G-quadruplex interactions with small molecules (G4-ligands).
Discussion of biological relevance and drug development prospects.

Main Results:

G-quadruplexes exhibit significant structural polymorphism.
Diverse G4-ligands show high affinity and selectivity for specific G-quadruplex structures.
Understanding these interactions is key to developing targeted therapies.

Conclusions:

G-quadruplexes are validated biological targets with potential for drug development.
Structural diversity and ligand selectivity are critical factors for therapeutic efficacy.
Further research into G-quadruplexes and their ligands will advance the development of gene- and telomere-targeting drugs.