Contents 



Page 



Preface v 



Author's Comments and Acknowledgments ix 



PART I 

 ANTIGENS AS BIOCATALYSTS 



Introduction 3 



A. The Formation and Properties of Antibodies 7 



1. The Chemical Nature of Antibodies 9 



B. The Role of Catalysis in Chemical Reactions and Its Bearing on 



the Formation of Antibodies 10 



1. Catalysis of Organic Reactions 13 



a. Mutarotation of Glucose by Acid and Base Catalysis . . 16 



b. Acid Catalyzed Enolization 18 



c. Enolization in Dilute Acid 19 



d. Acid-Base Catalysis of Condensation Reactions ... 19 



e. Acid Catalysis of Condensation Reactions 20 



f. Hydrolysis of Esters 21 



g. Acid Catalyzed Esterification and Hydrolysis .... 22 



2. Acid Catalysis in Non-Aqueous Solvents (Aprotic) ... 23 



3. Characteristics Which Are Common to Inorganic Catalysts, 

 Enzymes and Antigens 25 



a. Disproportionality between the Amount of Inorganic Cat- 

 alysts and the Amounts of Substrates Catalyzed ... 29 



b. Disproportionality between the Amounts of Enzymes and 



the Amounts of Substrates Catalyzed 29 



c. Disproportionality between the Amount of the Antigen 

 Used and the Amount of Antibody Produced .... 30 



d. Absence of Inorganic Catalysts, Enzymes and Antigens in 



the Catalyzed Reaction Products 35 



e. Enzymes as Antigens 38 



4. Do Catalysts (Antigens) Make a New Reaction Possible"? 44 



5. Does Antibody Synthesis Involve New Processes Which Did 

 Not Already Exist in the Animal System? 45 



3d 



j666; 



