antigenic determinant

n (Biochemistry) the specific part of an antigen molecule to which an antibody becomes attached

ep•i•tope

(ˈɛp ɪˌtoʊp)

n. a site on an antigen at which an antibody can bind, the molecular arrangement of the site determining the specific combining antibody. Also called antigenic determinant . [1970–75; epi- + -tope < Greek tópos place; compare topo-]

Thesaurus

Noun

antigenic determinant - the site on the surface of an antigen molecule to which an antibody attaches itselfepitope, determinantimmunology - the branch of medical science that studies the body's immune systemsite, situation - physical position in relation to the surroundings; "the sites are determined by highly specific sequences of nucleotides"antigen - any substance (as a toxin or enzyme) that stimulates an immune response in the body (especially the production of antibodies)

antigenic determinant

determinant

[de-ter´mĭ-nant] a factor that establishes the nature of an entity or event.antigenic determinant a site on the surface of an antigen molecule to which a single antibody molecule binds; generally an antigen has several or many different antigenic determinants and reacts with many different antibodies. Called also epitope.

Antigens contain antigenic determinants (epitopes) and antibodies contain antibody combining sites (paratopes). From Copstead and Banasik, 2000.hidden determinant an antigenic determinant located in an unexposed region of a molecule so that it is prevented from interacting with receptors on lymphocytes, or with antibody molecules, and is unable to induce an immune response; it may appear following stereochemical alterations of molecular structure.immunogenic determinant the part of an immunogenic molecule that interacts with a helper T cell in triggering antibody production as opposed to the antigenic determinant or hapten, which interacts with B cells.