title: The binding potential between the cholera toxin B-oligomer and its receptor.
abstract: Employing atomic force microscopy as an in situ molecular force probe, we have measured the binding strength between cholera toxin B-pentamer (ctB) and its membrane receptor, ganglioside G(M1). By application of the basic principle of the reaction rate theory, key parameters of the ligand-receptor binding potential can be obtained from our data. The potential has a well with a spatial span of about 2.5 A and a depth of at least six times the thermal energy at room temperature. The very short range nature of the binding potential leads to the specificity of the ctB-G(M1) coupling.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Vermont, Cook Building, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Xian-E
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000378:metabolism*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011485:Protein Binding; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C023552:choleragen receptor; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D002772:Cholera Toxin