[Structure of antibodies and the specificity of the antigen-antibody interaction (author's transl)]

Abstract

A review is given about some aspects of the antigen-antibody interaction. Especially the specificity of antibodies to haptens and the binding forces are viewed. Some problems of the nature of antigenic determinants of globular proteins are discussed. Models of structure of antigenic determinants on such proteins are presented. The structural basis of antibody molecules, especially of the combining site are looked in review. Theories are presented, which are suitable to explain the high specificity and the great heterogeneity of antibodies. The concept of multispecificity of a single antibody molecule in relation to the high specificity of antisera is discussed.