Biomaterial Database

Hydrophobic, hydrophilic and other interactions in epitope-paratope binding. 1995

C J Van Oss

Department of Microbiology, State University of New York at Buffalo 14214.

Macroscopic, non-covalent, aspecific interactions between hydrophilic biopolymers, particles and cells in aqueous media tend to be repulsive; they are caused by Lifshitz-van der Waals (LW), Lewis acid-base (AB) and electrostatic (EL) forces. Microscopic scale specific interactions, e.g. between epitopes and paratopes, are also non-covalent and caused by attractive LW, AB and EL forces, which locally must be able to overcome the long- to medium-range macroscopic aspecific repulsive forces. Thus epitopes and paratopes need to be able to attract each other over a distance of at least 3 nm. The medium- and long-range specific attractive forces are mainly of hydrophobic (AB) and of EL origin; in aqueous media the medium- and long-range LW attractions are usually much weaker. It has been shown that hydrophobic (AB) interactions are as often enthalpic as entropic. Upon expulsion of interstitial water of hydration between epitope and paratope, a strong interfacial bond ultimately arises which is mainly caused by LW forces.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008956	Models, Chemical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of chemical processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Chemical Models,Chemical Model,Model, Chemical
D004563	Electrochemistry	The study of chemical changes resulting from electrical action and electrical activity resulting from chemical changes.	Electrochemistries
D006860	Hydrogen Bonding	A low-energy attractive force between hydrogen and another element. It plays a major role in determining the properties of water, proteins, and other compounds.	Hydrogen Bonds,Bond, Hydrogen,Hydrogen Bond
D000937	Antigen-Antibody Reactions	The processes triggered by interactions of ANTIBODIES with their ANTIGENS.	Antigen Antibody Reactions,Antigen-Antibody Reaction,Reaction, Antigen-Antibody,Reactions, Antigen-Antibody
D000939	Epitopes	Sites on an antigen that interact with specific antibodies.	Antigenic Determinant,Antigenic Determinants,Antigenic Specificity,Epitope,Determinant, Antigenic,Determinants, Antigenic,Specificity, Antigenic
D001666	Binding Sites, Antibody	Local surface sites on antibodies which react with antigen determinant sites on antigens (EPITOPES.) They are formed from parts of the variable regions of FAB FRAGMENTS.	Antibody Binding Sites,Paratopes,Antibody Binding Site,Binding Site, Antibody,Paratope
D012995	Solubility	The ability of a substance to be dissolved, i.e. to form a solution with another substance. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Solubilities
D013816	Thermodynamics	A rigorously mathematical analysis of energy relationships (heat, work, temperature, and equilibrium). It describes systems whose states are determined by thermal parameters, such as temperature, in addition to mechanical and electromagnetic parameters. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed)	Thermodynamic
D014867	Water	A clear, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for most animal and plant life and is an excellent solvent for many substances. The chemical formula is hydrogen oxide (H2O). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Hydrogen Oxide
D018448	Models, Immunological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of immune system, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electrical equipment.	Immunological Models,Immunologic Model,Model, Immunologic,Immunologic Models,Immunological Model,Model, Immunological,Models, Immunologic