Ligand fishing

Ligand fishing is a scientific technique used to identify molecules, called ligands, that can bind to specific proteins or targets. Imagine it as a fishing process where the target protein is the fishing net, and potential ligands are the fish. By introducing a mixture of molecules and then isolating those that stick to the protein, researchers can discover new drugs or understand biological processes better. This method helps efficiently screen large compound libraries to find high-affinity binders, accelerating drug discovery and biochemical research.