paratope

(noun)

Part of the molecule of an antibody that binds to an antigen.

Related Terms

  • isotype
  • epitope

Examples of paratope in the following topics:

  • Antigenic Determinants and Processing Pathways

    • In antibodies, the binding site for an epitope is called a paratope.
    • The epitopes of protein antigens are divided into two categories based on their structures and interaction with the paratope.
    • These epitopes interact with the paratope based on the 3-D surface features and tertiary structure (overall shape) of the antigen.
    • Linear epitopes interact with the paratope based on their primary structure (shape of the protein's components).
  • Structure and Function of Antibodies

    • Each tip of the "Y" of an antibody contains a paratope (a structure analogous to a lock) that is specific for one particular epitope (similarly analogous to a key) on an antigen, allowing these two structures to bind together with precision.
    • The paratope is considered a hypervariable region and has the same specificity and antigen-binding affinity as the B cell receptor of the B cell that created the antibody.
    • Additionally, because antibodies have two or more paratopes, they can sometimes link pathogens together, making phagocytosis more efficient.
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