A specific region (or atom) in a
molecular entity that is capable of entering into a stabilizing interaction with another molecular
entity. An example of such an interaction is that of an active site in an enzyme with
its
substrate. Typical forms of interaction are by
hydrogen bonding,
coordination and
ion pair formation. Two binding sites in different molecular entities are said to be complementary
if their interaction is stabilizing.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1089
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
