Patent ID: 6242190
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for screening candidate ligands in order to select enthalpically favorable lead ligands, wherein said enthalpically favorable lead ligands exhibit a negative .DELTA.H, comprising the steps of:carrying out steps a-c for a plurality of said candidate ligands, wherein said steps a-c are:a) exposing a macromolecule to a ligand at a plurality of temperatures;b) measuring a binding affinity of said macromolecule for said ligand at each of said plurality of temperatures, thereby generating a plurality of binding affinity values, each of which is associated with one of said plurality of temperatures; and,c) evaluating said .DELTA.H of binding for said ligand by comparing said plurality of binding affinity values, wherein said .DELTA.H is positive if said binding affinity values increase with increasing temperature, and said .DELTA.H is negative if said binding affinity values decrease with decreasing temperature; and,selecting as lead ligands those candidate ligands in which said .DELTA.H is negative.