Methods for identifying a member of a mass-coded molecular library, which
is a ligand for a biomolecule and binds to the biomolecule at the binding
site of a known second ligand for the biomolecule are described. The
methods includes contacting a mass-coded molecular library with a
biomolecule; separating the biomolecule-ligand complexes from the unbound
members of the mass-coded molecular library; contacting the
biomolecule-ligand complexes with a second ligand to dissociate
biomolecule-ligand complexes in which the ligand binds to the biomolecule
at the binding site of the second ligand, thereby forming
biomolecule-second ligand complexes and dissociated ligands; separating
the dissociated ligands and biomolecule-second ligand complexes; and
determining the molecular mass of each dissociated ligand.