title: The mechanism of immune precipitation.
abstract: Numerous analytical methods are based on immune precipitation because the proper use of antibodies ensures a high degree of sensitivity and a remarkable specificity. In addition most methods based on immune precipitation have a fairy simple protocol. Immune precipitation has been known now for more than 85 years(1) and has been used in countless studies, yet its molecular mechanism is still incompletely understood. Here, fens Steensgaard describes a two-stage model of the process, in which the second step is not immune-specific. This has implications for attempts to reproduce conventional antisera with cocktails of monoclonal reagents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biochemistry, University of Aarhus, DK 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steensgaard