Synthetic multivalent ligands in the exploration of cell-surface interactions

Processes such as cell-cell recognition and the initiation of signal transduction often depend on the formation of multiple receptor-ligand complexes at the cell surface. Synthetic multivalent ligands are unique probes of these complex cell-surface-binding events. Multivalent ligands can be used as inhibitors of receptor-ligand interactions or as activators of signal transduction pathways. Emerging-from these complementary applications is insight into how cells exploit multivalent interactions to bind with increased avidity and specificity and how cell-surface receptor organization influences signaling and the cellular responses that result.