A critical interpretation of experiments on binding of peptide hormone to specific receptors by computer modelling

Many investigations dealing with the interaction of peptide hormones and specific cell membrane receptors imply the existence of two classes of independent binding sites. On class is characterized by high affinity and low capacity, the other one by low affinity and high capacity. This conclusion has been derived from the fact that the Scatchard plots of binding data show a significant upward curvature. Using a more precise and critical method of evaluation these findings probably must be revised in some cases. Other conclusions taken from linear plots concerning the regulation of hormone receptors should be discussed more carefully. Some sources of errors caused by an uncritical interpretation of Scatchard plots are demonstrated.