An
opsonin (from the Greek
opsoneîn, to prepare for eating) is any molecule that enhances
phagocytosis by marking an
antigen for an immune response (i.e., causes the phagocyte to "relish" the marked cell). However, the term is usually used in reference to molecules that act as binding enhancers for the process of phagocytosis, especially
antibodies, which coat the negatively charged molecules on the membrane. Molecules that activate the
complement system are also considered opsonins. Phagocytic cells do not have an
Fc receptor for
immunoglobulin M (IgM), making IgM ineffective in assisting phagocytosis. However, IgM is extremely efficient at activating complement and is, therefore, considered an opsonin. Opsonins can also refer to molecules that target a cell for destruction through the action of
natural killer (NK) cells.