LIGAND-INDUCED DISSOCIATION OF THE ASYMMETRIC HOMODIMER OF RISTOCETIN-A MONITORED BY F-19 NMR-SPECTROSCOPY

In this paper we demonstrate the use of F-19-labelled ligands in the s tudy of the therapeutically important vancomycin group of antibiotics. The substantial simplification of spectra that occurs when such label led ligands are employed is used to study the anticooperativity betwee n ligand binding and dimerisation of ristocetin A. The general utility of F-19-labelled ligands is demonstrated, with the caveat that the po sitioning of the label has to be carefully considered. With the growin g therapeutic importance of the vancomycin group of glycopeptide antib iotics, such a tool may prove valuable in the detailed study of their mode of action.