hapten

hap·ten   (hāp'těn')    n.  A small molecule that reacts with a specific antibody but cannot induce the formation of antibodies unless bound to a carrier protein or other large antigenic molecule. [German : Greek haptein, to fasten + German -en, n. suff. (from Greek -ēnē, -ene).] hap·ten'ic adj.

Main Entry: hap·ten
Pronunciation: 'hap-"ten
Function: noun
: a small separable part of an antigen that reacts specifically with an antibody but isincapable of stimulating antibody production except in combination with an associated protein molecule —hap·ten·ic /hap-'ten-ik/ adjective —hap·ten·at·ed /'hap-t&-"nAt-&d/ adjective

hapten hap·ten (hāp'tən)
n.
A substance that is capable of reacting with a specific antibody but cannot induce the formation of antibodies unless bound to a carrier protein or other molecule. Also called incomplete antigen, partial antigen.

hapten

small molecule that stimulates the production of antibody molecules only when conjugated to a larger molecule, called a carrier molecule.

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