Canonical formulation of linkage thermodynamics.

The canonical structure of the group of thermodynamic potentials obtained from the energy of a physico-chemical system removes any possible distinction between physical and chemical binding phenomena. Transformations of these potentials by means of Jacobians give linkage relations for equilibrium thermodynamics. Linkage matrices are introduced to explore the functional properties of a biological macromolecule. They provide a quantitative basis for a broader approach and understanding of generalized binding phenomena.