Epitope Notes: Definitions & Explanations PDF | Download eBooks
Study Epitope lecture notes PDF with biology definitions and explanation to study “What is Epitope?”. Study epitope explanation with biology terms to review biology course for online degree programs.
Epitope Definition:
Small, accessible portion of an antigen that binds to an antigen receptor is called an epitope.
Campbell Biology by J.B. Reece, L.A. Urry, M.L. Cain, S.A. Wasserman, P.V. Minorsky, R.B. Jackson
Epitope Notes:
An epitope is also called as antigenic determinant. It is the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, specifically by antibodies, B cells, or T cells. For example, the epitope is the specific piece of the antigen to which an antibody binds. Because all antigen receptors produced by a single B cell or T cell are identical, they bind to the same epitope. Each B or T cell thus displays specificity for a particular epitope, enabling it to respond to any pathogen that produces molecules containing that epitope. A single antigen usually has several epitopes, each binding a receptor with a different specificity.
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