Antibody Studies

[摘要] The chemical nature of antibodies can be definitely determined only by direct tests on the pure product. Unfortunately, these substances occur in such small proportions that hitherto it has been impossible to isolate them in pure form. Whether the substances involved in immunity reactions are colloids or not, we know that antibodies are closely associated with proteins, and that not only antibody, but some proteins are taken up by antigen in the process of sensitization. Both of these serum constituents may be dissociated during the final extraction of a sensitized antigen. That such a possibility exists will be shown in protocol 4.Again, the question of the delicacy of the chemical tests at our disposal and the competence of any chemical reaction to detect the presence of antibody as a chemical entity must be considered. The fundamental fact to be borne in mind is that these bodies are comparatively unstable and are easily altered by strong chemical reagents.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）