Word: antigen
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Dates: during 1972-1972
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Though the American and the Englishman never collaborated directly, their research has, in effect, followed the same paths since 1959. Antibodies form complex, giant molecules. Porter concentrated on those parts of the molecule that give an antibody the capacity to react with a foreign or threatening substance (an antigen) and destroy it. Using a protein-splitting enzyme called papain, Porter broke the antibody molecule into three fragments. He found that the molecule is Y-shaped. The two smaller and similar parts of the structure are the ones that are capable of combining with the antigen; the larger one lacks this...
...heavy" ones that make up the trunk. After establishing that antibodies have some flexible amino-acid chains, Edelman was able to demonstrate how the body can form different antibodies to deal with specific diseases. He also demonstrated how parts of the antibody molecule adhere to the antigen molecule, while others attack...