Binding Revisited-Avidity in Cellular Function and Signaling

When characterizing biomolecular interactions, avidity, is an umbrella term used to describe the accumulated strength of multiple specific and unspecific interactions between two or more interaction partners. In contrast to the affinity, which is often sufficient to describe monovalent interactions in solution and where the binding strength can be accurately determined by considering only the relationship between the microscopic association and dissociation rates, the avidity is a phenomenological macroscopic parameter linked to several microscopic events. Avidity also covers potential effects of reduced dimensionality and/or hindered diffusion observed at or near surfaces e.g., at the cell membrane. Avidity is often used to describe the discrepancy or the extra on top when cellular interactions display binding that are several orders of magnitude stronger than those estimated in vitro. Here we review the principles and theoretical frameworks governing avidity in biological systems and the methods for predicting and simulating avidity. While the avidity and effects thereof are well-understood for extracellular biomolecular interactions, we present here examples of, and discuss how, avidity and the underlying kinetics influences intracellular signaling processes.

Automated summary

Avidity is a term used to describe the accumulated strength of multiple interactions between biomolecules, covering both specific and nonspecific interactions. Unlike affinity, which focuses on individual binding events, avidity is a macroscopic parameter linked to various microscopic events and can be influenced by reduced dimensionality and hindered diffusion. In biological systems, avidity plays a role in explaining discrepancies between cellular and in vitro binding strengths, and its effects on intracellular signaling processes are also important to consider.