(02) Antibody Structure and Function Flashcards
Immunoglobulin
- Cells that produce these?
- expression of gene(s)
- Relationship to antibodies.
Produced by:
- Plasma Cells (B cell)
Gene Expression:
- Two genes expressed that code for Immunoglobulins
Antibodies:
- 2 immunoglobulins combine to form antibodies
What is the relationship of immunoglobulins produced by a B cell and B cell surface receptors?
- they are identical with the same antigen specificity as the antibodies that are secreted
What happens to B cells during an infection?
- B cells with specificity for any specific determinant or the pathogen are activated
- These are induced to clonally expand
- Cells differentiate into plasma cells
T or F: during a specific infection only one group of B cells become active and differentiate into plasma cells
False, each pathogen has many different determinants that can be recognized by distinct antibodies so many different B cells with different specificities can be activated to target a single pathogen
Antibody structure
- Heavy Chain and Light Chain linked by disulfide bonds is linked via disulfide bonds to another IDENTICLE heavy chain, light chain combo
What is the Hinge region of antibodies?
- is this found in all types?
- Stretch of Amino Acids in the HEAVY CHAIN they has no secondary structure and is flexible
- NO not all isotypes have a hinge region, instead they have an additional IMMUNOGLOBULIN domain
How many distinct regions are found in the heavy chain of antibodies?
- light chain?
- Purpose?
Heavy Chain:
4 distinct regions and hinge region (3 constant domains and 1 variable domain)
Light Chain:
2 distinct regions (1 constant and 1 variable domain)
**These are formed by highly organized secondary structure that makes antibodies vary stable in many different environments
T or F: both heavy and light chains have variable domains that align with each other to form a unique structure.
True
Antibody Structure (4 parts) **pay attn. to 3 and 4
- Each Immunoglobulin domain is stabilized by INTRACHAIN disulfide bonds
- Each monomeric antibody molecule has two antigen-binding regions (where heavy and light chains come together)
- Tertiary Structure permits binding of only one antigen (3D structure = idiotype) - C-terminal Immunoglobulin domain includes region of molecules that binds to antibody receptors or Fc receptors (on macrophages, neutrophils, mast cells etc.)
- CH2 immunoglobulin domain containis the determinant that complement component C1 binds to when intitiating the classical complement cascade
Fc region
- what does it consist of?
- what is it bound by?
- CONSTANT domains of heavy chains of antibody (vertical part of the Y)
- Bound by COMPLEMENT COMPONENT C1 and Fc receptors
What are the Fab fragments?
- Fragments of Antigen Binding (slanting part of the Y)
What region would you need to cleave to isolate Fc region from Fab fragments?
- Cleaving in the hinge domain produces Fc region piece and Fab fragments
What happens if a pathogen produces a protease that cleaves the hinge region?
- Fab Fragments still by their antigenic determinant
- BUT no Fc regions means they couldn’t
1. perform their effector functions
2. activate complement cascade
3. serve as opsonins for phagocytic uptake
4. in some cases they couldn’t even neutralize toxins
T or F: the constant domain of the light chain is almost identical to the constant domain of the heavy chain?
True
What is the secondary and tertiary structure of constant domains?
- what maintains tertiary structure?
- Beta-Sheet secondary structure separated by HIGHLY CONSERVED loops of amino acids that have no secondary structure
- Tertiary structure = Beta Barrel, maintained by SINGLE DISULFIDE bond
T or F: the light chain variable region is very different from the light chain constant region
False, these two regions are nearly identical
What is the main difference between the structure of the light chain variable and constant regions?
- Loops are NOT conserved and are EXTREMELY variable, aka HYPERVARIABLE region
What would result from a basepair substitution in the light chain loop region in the:
- Constant Region
- Variable Region
Constant Region:
- Loss of Functionality
Variable Region:
- Protein would still be functional
Note all concepts of the light chain variable and constant region apply to the heavy chain except the heavy chain has 3 variable regions
Note all concepts of the light chain variable and constant region apply to the heavy chain except the heavy chain has 3 variable regions
What does HV1, HV2, and HV3 stand for?
HyperVariable region 1-3 (located around 30, 50, and 90 residues)
***3 located on both the heavy and light chains
What do HV regions come together to form?
- The Antigen Binding Domain
**This defines the antibody’s IDIOTYPE
Define Antigen
Any molecule that is bound by a B cell or T cell immunoglobulin molecule
Define Antigenic Determinant or Epitope
The exact portion of the antigen that is recognized by the immunoglobulin