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What is the formula to calculate the association constant of an antibody/antigen interaction?

a) Ka = [Antigen] / [Antibody]
b) Ka = [Antigen] * [Antibody]
c) Ka = 1 / ([Antigen] * [Antibody])
d) Ka = [Antigen] + [Antibody]

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The formula to calculate the association constant (Ka) of an antibody/antigen interaction is the concentration of the antibody-antigen complex divided by the product of the unbound antibody and unbound antigen concentrations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The calculation of the association constant (Ka) for an antibody/antigen interaction does not directly follow the acid ionization constant (Ka) equations, as this is an entirely different scenario involving immunological binding rather than acid-base chemistry. The association constant, in the context of an antibody-antigen interaction, indicates the strength of the interaction; a higher Ka suggests a stronger affinity between the antibody and the antigen.

For an antibody-antigen interaction, the association constant (Ka) is defined as the ratio of the rate of complex formation to the rate of complex dissociation, which in equilibrium, can be mathematically represented as:

Ka = [Antibody-Antigen complex] / ([Antibody] * [Antigen])

This equation implies that the association constant Ka is not included in the multiple-choice options provided. Instead, the correct formula is based on equilibrium concentrations of the antibody-antigen complex and unbound antibody and antigen.

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