Protein immunochemistry for the sophisticate.

A comprehensive analysis of protein immunochemistry entitled “The Antigenic Structure of Proteins: A Reappraisal” appears in this year's Annual Reviews of Immunology (Vol 2). The “Reappraisal” (1) covers the four best-studied protein antigens; myoglobin, hen egg lysozyme, cytochrome C, and bovine serum albumin. This reader is not a protein/ peptide immunochemist but the antigenic structure of proteins is of great interest to someone who studies the immunology of infectious disease and teaches immunochemistry. As such, I read the “Reappraisal” with high affinity (avidity being passe) and have used it as a focal point for discussion among the more advanced graduate students on our campus. Although we have all found it to be stimulating, I would caution against glibly handing the chapter over to a beginning graduate student.