Seven transmembrane receptors as nature's prototype allosteric protein: de-emphasizing the geography of binding.

The article in this issue by Redka et al. (p. 834) illustrates some interesting interactions between classified orthosteric (bind to the same recognition site as endogenous agonist) and allosteric (bind to a different site) ligands. Of particular interest are the methods used to deal with an obfuscating factor in these kinds of studies, namely the propensity of seven transmembrane receptors to form dimers and thus demonstrate allosteric effects through binding at the orthosteric site. The judicious use of kinetics to detect and quantify allosteric action also is demonstrated. The various unique properties of allosteric modulators are discussed in the context of the increasing prevalence of allosteric ligands as investigational drugs.