Premium
A systematic analysis of average molecular weights and gelation conditions for branched immune complexes: The interaction between a multivalent antigen with distinct epitopes and many different types of bivalent antibodies
Author(s) -
Shiau LieDing
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(199609)39:3<445::aid-bip15>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - bivalent (engine) , chemistry , epitope , antigen , antibody , immune system , antigen antibody complex , computational biology , biophysics , immunology , organic chemistry , biology , metal
A systematic model, based on standard equilibrium expressions and probability theory, is presented to calculate average molecular weights and gelation conditions for the immune system consisting of a single type of antigens with three (or more) different epitopes and three (or more) types of bivalent antibodies. Molecular weights M¯ n , M¯ w , M¯ z , and any other higher average molecular weights of formed branched antigen‐antibody complexes in such an immune system are calculated directly without determining the whole distribution. The conditions for the formation of gel complexes also can be determined by this model. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.