Analysis of radioligand binding experiments: A collection of computer programs for the IBM PC

Abstract

It is now well accepted that graphic methods are a poor choice of analytical technique for analyzing radioligand binding data given the complexity of some radioligand-binding site interactions; this is true not only for studies performed at equilibrium but also for those examining kinetic properties of the radioligand. As a consequence the computer plays an important role in all forms of radioligand binding experiments because it reduces the labor-intensive calculations associated with such experiments and it allows the use of more appropriate weighted nonlinear curve-fitting techniques that more accurately describe the radioligand-binding site interaction. This paper describes a collection of four programs ( klnetic, ebda, ligad, and lowry) that can be used to analyze most forms of radioligand binding experiments. The programs have been adapted for use on an IBM PC, which is a popular, inexpensive microcomputer and which is well suited to the analysis of radioligand binding data.