Detection of small molecule compounds bound to proteins

Abstract

Protein-small molecule interactions play an important role in the life activities of organisms. Since protein/small molecule interactions are important for elucidating the diverse uses and their mechanisms in the fields of biological life multiplicity, disease cure, drug development, etc., methods to accurately detect protein/small molecule interactions have attracted much attention. This paper reviews the recent advances in interaction detection methods based on optical, thermodynamic, chromatographic and other principles. The structural types of small molecules for which the methods are mainly suitable and the principles of method selection are discussed, and the prospects for the combined application of different methods in the field of complex small molecule drugs are also envisaged.