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Kinetics of Tethered Ligands Binding to a Surface Receptor

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Terentjev, EM 

Abstract

The rate of binding of a grafted polymer to the surface is controlled by entropic barriers. Using a mean field approximation of ideal polymer dynamics, we fi rst calculate the characteristic binding time for a tethered ligand reaching for a binding site located on the tethering surface. This time is determined by two separate entropic effects: a barrier for the chain to be stretched sufficiently to reach the distant target, and a restriction on chain conformations near the surface, versus the increase in available phase space for longer chains. The competition between these two constraints determines the optimal (shortest) binding time. The theory is then extended to model bridging between two surfaces, in particular relevant for cell adhesion. Here the tethered ligand reaches for a receptor on a parallel surface, and the binding time depends on the gap between the two constraining surfaces. Again, an optimal binding time is determined for the given tether geometry. The results look similar to those for free particles in the `narrow escape problem', but modi fied by an entropic activation factor introduced by the tether.

Description

Keywords

34 Chemical Sciences

Journal Title

Macromolecules

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0024-9297
1520-5835

Volume Title

50

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/M508007/1)