photoaffinity labeling

photoaffinity labeling

noun

Definition of PHOTOAFFINITY LABELING

: a technique of attaching a label to the active site of a large molecule and especially a protein by using a molecule which binds loosely and reversibly to the large molecule's active site and which has an inactive part that can be converted by photolysis to a highly reactive form causing the complex of the large substrate molecule and the loosely attached label to bind more permanently