COMPLEMENTOPHILE GROUPS OF THE AMBOCEPTORS. 227 



group, contains two, three, or more complementophile groups." 

 According to this latter view, therefore, it is to be assumed that an 

 amboceptor possesses one haptophore group specifically related to a 

 certain receptor of cell or of a foodstuff, and that it also possesses a 

 number of complementophile groups. The term amboceptor would 

 thus indicate that two different substances, foodstuff and comple- 

 ment, are anchored by this body and brought into close relation with 

 each other. This is illustrated in the following diagram. 



FIG. i. 



(a) receptor of the cell; (6) haptophore group of the amboceptor; (c) domi- 

 nant complement; (d) non-dominant complement. 



Complementophile groups of the amboceptor: (a) for the dominant com- 

 plement; (/?) for the non-dominant. 



The next question to be considered is whether it is necessary, in 

 order to get the specific lysin effect, for all these complements to come 

 into action. Recent experiments indicate that this is not the case, 

 but that among the number of complements only a few are necessary 

 in any single instance in order to obtain the effect. These comple- 

 ments are termed "dominant complements," the rest are "non-dominant 

 complements."^ 



