Precipitation reactions depend on
A) the antigen having one epitope.
B) the antibody having one epitope.
C) the antigen having two or more epitopes.
D) the antigen having no epitopes.
E) the epitope have one or more antigens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Precipitation reactions occur when antigens have multiple epitopes and are able to cross-link with antibodies, forming an insoluble complex that precipitates out of solution. If the antigen only has one epitope, it cannot form a large enough complex to precipitate. Similarly, if the antibody only has one epitope, it cannot bind to multiple antigens and form a complex. Antigens with no epitopes cannot be recognized by antibodies. The epitope refers to the specific part of the antigen that binds to the antibody.

Precipitation Reactions Depend on