Macfasa Upgrade--Saturation/Competition/Curve Fitting

The characterization of receptor heterogeneity is a complex problem for receptor pharmacologists. Aproblem that researchers face is that the accepted analysis technique, non-linear least squares analseveral weaknesses. To circumvent these problems, we have been working with Fourier-derived affinity(MacFASA) which calculates the number of binding populations distinguished by a radioligand and itswill extend the Fourier methods to competition data. Our overall goal is to create a software packagthe Fourier methods for saturation and competition data with curve-fitting, making a very powerful dachieve this goal, we will i) upgrade the MacFASA program for the Macintosh, to include the saturatimodules along with curve-fitting at each stage; ii) test the program with simulated saturation and cthe program in an experimental situation carrying out experiments that will test both the program andesign strategy; iv) prepare a comprehensive manual that will include a user's guide, suggested expecomponents and an appendix that describes the underlying mathematics.