Epitopes: Difference between revisions
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Epitopes, also known as antigenic determinant, are the specific site of an antigen that binds to an antibody or a T cell receptor | Epitopes, also known as [[antigenic determinant|antigenic determinant]], are the specific site of an [[antigen|antigen]] that binds to an [[antibody|antibody]] or a [[T cell receptor|T cell receptor]] <ref>Alberts, Bruce (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. p88.</ref>. | ||
Most antigens have a few epitopes. Antigens can be classified as polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal. Polyclonal antibodies are antibodies taken from different B-cells. The mixture of the antibodies obtained are each specific for one of the various epitopes on an antigen. Monoclonal antibodies, on the other hand, are all the same and will only bind to one specific epitope <ref>Alberts, Bruce (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. p88.</ref>. | Most antigens have a few epitopes. Antigens can be classified as [[polyclonal antibodies|polyclonal antibodies]] or [[monoclonal antibodies|monoclonal]]. Polyclonal antibodies are antibodies taken from different [[B-cells|B-cells]]. The mixture of the antibodies obtained are each specific for one of the various epitopes on an antigen. Monoclonal antibodies, on the other hand, are all the same and will only bind to one specific epitope <ref>Alberts, Bruce (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. p88.</ref>. | ||
=== References === | |||
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Revision as of 20:17, 23 October 2012
Epitopes, also known as antigenic determinant, are the specific site of an antigen that binds to an antibody or a T cell receptor [1].
Most antigens have a few epitopes. Antigens can be classified as polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal. Polyclonal antibodies are antibodies taken from different B-cells. The mixture of the antibodies obtained are each specific for one of the various epitopes on an antigen. Monoclonal antibodies, on the other hand, are all the same and will only bind to one specific epitope [2].