5.4 Shape Complementarity

Shape Complementarity (Module 5: The Explorer). Key concept: Buried surface area & steric fit. Explain why binding partners must be shape-complementary to make contact at all.

• Explain why binding partners must be shape-complementary to make contact at all
• Use buried surface area as a measure of interface size, and state the convention you are using
• Recognise the favourable contact types: hydrophobic–hydrophobic, donor–acceptor, charge pairing
• Explain why a single steric clash can be decisive
• Assess shape, charge and chemistry together rather than one at a time