hapten

A molecule that is incapable, alone, of causing the production of antibodies but can, however, combine with a larger antigenic molecule called a carrier. A h.-carrier complex can stimulate production of antibodies, some of which combine with the h. portion of the complex. SEE ALSO: h. inhibition of precipitation. SYN: incomplete antigen, partial antigen. [G. hapto, to fasten, bind]

- conjugated h. a h. that may cause the production of antibodies when it has been covalently linked to protein. SYN: conjugated antigen.

- Forssman h. a glycolipid from mammalian organs; it is a ceramide pentasaccharide. Cf.:Forssman antibody, Forssman antigen.

- half h. half-h..

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hap·ten 'hap-.ten n a small separable part of an antigen that reacts specif. with an antibody but is incapable of stimulating antibody production except in combination with an associated protein molecule

hap·ten·ic hap-'ten-ik adj

hap·ten·at·ed 'hap-tə-.nāt-əd adj

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n.

see antigen

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hap·ten (hapґtən) [Ger., from Gr. haptein to fasten] a small molecule, not antigenic by itself, that can react with antibodies of appropriate specificity and elicit the formation of such antibodies when conjugated to a larger antigenic molecule, usually a protein, called in this context the carrier or schlepper. Antibody production involves activation of B lymphocytes by the hapten and helper T lymphocytes by the carrier.