Any part of a molecule that acts as an antigenic determinant. A macromolecule can contain many different epitopes each capable of stimulating production of a different specific antibody.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 153
Transformed and rewritten from PDF version (entry
http://www.iupac.org/goldbook/E02171.pdf)
by: Miloslav Nic, Jiri Jirat, Bedrich Kosata, ICT Prague, Czech Republic
