M&R Session 8 Flashcards
What equation is used to calculate molarity?
Grams per litre/molecular weight
Which drugs do not bind to proteins?
Anti microbial
Anti tumour
Why must drug concentrations be considered in molarity?
Using equal weights of substances w/ different molecular weights leads to different concentrations of molecules
What is the critical determinant of drug action?
The molarity of drug molecules around receptors
What law does drug binding obey?
Mass action
What forms the dynamic equilibrium between ligand, receptors and the complex they form upon binding?
Association and dissociation
What is related to the binding of drug molecules to receptors?
[reactants]
[products]
Le Chatelier’s principle
What two characteristics do agonists have?
Affinity
Intrinsic efficacy
What governs receptor activation to give intracellular effects?
Intrinsic efficacy
What is intrinsic efficacy?
The ability to turn a receptor on by forming an activated receptor
What is efficacy?
Ability to cause coupling leading to cellular action
Ability to generate a biological response
What determines efficacy?
Cell/tissue-dependent factors
Why can an antagonist not cause a response?
It only has affinity so cannot convert the receptor to an active form - no conformational change
How do antagonists prevent receptors being turned on?
Prevent agonist binding
What two methods are used to measure drug-receptor interactions?
Binding w/radioligand
Relation b/w [drug] and response
Describe the process of radioligand binding.
Bind radioligand to cells/prepared membranes –> separate bound and free radioligand –> low [ligand] = low binding,
What is B(max)?
The concentration at which all receptors are full
What is Kd?
The dissociation constant = 50% occupancy
Measure of affinity
Is Kd affected by receptor number?
Nope
What does a low Kd indicate?
High affinity
What is K(A)?
Index of affinity determined by functional assay
What is the definition of a logarithm?
The exponent by which a fixed (base) value has to be raised to give a particular number
How is [drug] usually expressed?
On a logarithmic scale giving a sigmoidal curve
Can Kd be used for agonists and antagonists?
Yes, it can be used for any type of ligand
What does receptor response require?
Efficacy
What type of ligand must be used to measure drug-receptor interactions by relation b/w [drug] and response?
An agonist
What is E(max)?
Effect maximum; a tissue can only secrete/contract so much
What is EC50?
Effective concentration giving 50% of the maximal response
Define concentration in relation to drug action.
Known [drug] at site of action e.g. in cells and tissues
Define dose.
Concentration at an unknown site of action e.g. dose to a patient (mg or mg/kg)
What is potency?
How good a drug is at generating a biological response
What does potency depend on?
Affinity
Intrinsic efficacy
Efficacy