With this project, the precise molecular influences of supporting surfaces on receptor association rates and binding affinities to immobilized ligands are to be elucidated. Kinetic models of receptor binding are to be developed which incorporate the molecular details of interactions. The kinetics and equilibrium binding of receptors to functionalized surfaces will be studied by: (1) evanescent fiber optic fluorescence spectroscopy; (2) quantitative fluorescence microscopy; and (3) radiolabelling. Receptor adsoption and desorption rates and binding affinities will be determined by evanescent fiber optic spectroscopy. The uniformity of specific receptor binding will be assessed by fluorescence microscopy. Binding affinities to both functionalized planar surfaces and vesicles will be determined with radiolabelled proteins.
