binding site
noun
plural binding sites
: a location on a molecule or cell surface at which a chemical substance (such as an element or molecule) can bind (see bind entry 1 sense 5b)
A ligand is a molecule or ion whose shape is complementary to the shape of a binding site on a particular protein molecule.—
Gary A. Thibodeau
Gary A. Thibodeau… the most favorable binding site of atomic antimony is the terminal carbon …—Zhenjun Song et al.
Zhenjun Song et al.The main calcium binding site within each monomer involves the main chain oxygen atom …—Brian A. Fox et al.
Brian A. Fox et al.Note: A binding site may demonstrate specificity for a particular chemical substance.
Examples of binding site in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This hormone interacts with certain receptors (binding sites) to regulate your circadian rhythm and help with sleep.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Memantine Memantine works by preventing glutamate from attaching to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (binding site).
—Ross Phan, Pharmd, Bcacp, Bcgp, Bcps, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
Marta Murphy/Caltech When injected into an animal, the B cells in the animal’s immune system, which are in charge of producing protective antibodies, would start to make ones that attack these binding sites.
—Maggie Chen, WIRED, 26 July 2022
By being able to predict protein binding sites, AlphaFold3 will enhance researchers’ drug development capabilities.
—Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2024
During this last step of the process, which takes the longest, there are very few available binding sites in the fiberlike structures, which have to slowly move and bend to make the remaining binding sites available.
—Trevor Grandpre, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2024
The small molecule drugs bind to the protein binding site and modulate its activity, thereby influencing the disease path.
—Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2024
Rather, transcription factors, their DNA binding sites, and other regulatory molecules may assemble into dense gatherings that exert their influence collectively.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024
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Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Memantine Memantine works by preventing glutamate from attaching to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (binding site).
—Ross Phan, Pharmd, Bcacp, Bcgp, Bcps, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
Marta Murphy/Caltech When injected into an animal, the B cells in the animal’s immune system, which are in charge of producing protective antibodies, would start to make ones that attack these binding sites.
—Maggie Chen, WIRED, 26 July 2022
By being able to predict protein binding sites, AlphaFold3 will enhance researchers’ drug development capabilities.
—Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2024
During this last step of the process, which takes the longest, there are very few available binding sites in the fiberlike structures, which have to slowly move and bend to make the remaining binding sites available.
—Trevor Grandpre, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2024
The small molecule drugs bind to the protein binding site and modulate its activity, thereby influencing the disease path.
—Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2024
Rather, transcription factors, their DNA binding sites, and other regulatory molecules may assemble into dense gatherings that exert their influence collectively.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Binding site.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/binding%20site. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
binding site
noun
: a region on a molecule or cell surface at which the combining of chemical substances takes place
Proteins called transcription factors bind to these short DNA strings—transcription factor binding sites—to regulate the production of messenger RNA and thus the synthesis of proteins.—Leonid Kruglyak and David L. Stern, Science
Leonid Kruglyak and David L. Stern, ScienceLove words? Need even more definitions?
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