Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-biochemistry-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/paper-5/section-2/2/i/solution

Antibody specificity requires comparison with alternatives. Measure binding to unrelated proteins and to appropriate related antigens under comparable conditions, with a reference surface controlling nonspecific sensor binding. Preferential binding to the intended target would support specificity within that tested panel.
Competition with a soluble target, or an independent interaction assay, can help establish that the signal reflects the intended interaction. Specificity for a particular epitope is a stronger claim than specificity for the target protein and needs evidence localizing the contact. A single good-looking binding curve establishes neither universal absence of cross-reactivity nor epitope identity.

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