title: Let's get specific: the relationship between specificity and affinity.
abstract: The factors that lead to high-affinity binding are a good fit between the surfaces of the two molecules in their ground state and charge complementarity. Exactly the same factors give high specificity for a target. We argue that selection for high-affinity binding automatically leads to highly specific binding. This principle can be used to simplify screening approaches aimed at generating useful drugs.
authors.affiliation: NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zichi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D011955:Receptors, Drug