Comparison of the effects of chemical and isotopic dilution on the dissociation of bound labeled ligands

The dissociation of a labeled ligand from a binding structure to which it is reversibly attached can be promoted either by dilution or by chase. The kinetics of the dissociation brought up by dilution can be modified or not by the presence of various concentrations of cold ligand, according to the molecular mechanism of interaction. Analog computer simulation leads to the following results: (i) no cooperativity, monomolecular dissociation: no modification; (ii) positive or negative cooperativity (sequential models): acceleration, no modification, or slowing down (according to the kinetic constants); (iii) positive cooperativity (concerted model): no modification; (iv) two-step interaction: no modification if both interaction steps take place in the same phase, otherwise acceleration; and, (v) bimolecular association and dissociation: acceleration. This methodology could be used in order to characterize the molecular properties of various binding structures in the field of drug and hormone receptors as well as in enzymology.