| bindin | <biochemistry> Molecule of around 30 kD normally sequestered in the acrosomal vesicle of a sea urchin spermatozoon and that through its specific lectin like binding to the vitelline membrane of the egg confers species specificity in fertilization. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| binding | <biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology> The adherence of molecules to one another, for example, enzymes to substrates, antibodies to antigens, DNA strands to their complementary strands. Binding occurs because the shape and chemical natures of parts of the molecules surfaces are complementary. A common metaphor is the "lock-and-key," used to describe how enzymes fit around their substrate. (14 Nov 1997) |
| binding constant | <chemistry> Reciprocal of dissociation constant. A measure of the extent of a reversible association between two molecular species at equilibrium. (18 Nov 1997) |
| binding energy | <chemistry, radiobiology> The binding energy of a nucleus is the minimum energy required to dissociate it into its component neutrons and protons. Neutron or proton binding energies are those required to remove a neutron or proton, respectively, from a nucleus. Electron binding energy is that required to remove an electron from an atom or a molecule. (16 Dec 1997) |
| binding sites | The reactive parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule. (12 Dec 1998) |
| binding sites, antibody | Local surface sites on antibodies which react with antigen determinant sites on antigens. They are formed from parts of the variable regions of the fab fragment of the immunoglobulin. (12 Dec 1998) |