Antibodies

Question 1

What are anti-bodies?

Answer 1

Antibodies are proteins with specific binding sites complementary to specific antigens, they form antigen-antibody complexes.

Question 2

Describe the structure of an antibody:

Answer 2

1. They are made up of total of 4 polypeptide chains. 2- heavy (middle ones), 2-light(corner ones)
2. The binding site of every anti-body is different and is called the VARIABLE REGION. The rest is called the CONSTANT REGION.

Question 3

How do anti-bodies help?

Answer 3

1. Serve as markers: stimulate phagocytosis

2. Agglutination- clump bacterial cells together to make em easier to be engulfed by ENDOCYTOSIS in PHAGOCYTOSIS.

Question 4

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 4

They are single/specific antibodies that are isolated and clones.

Question 5

How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

Answer 5

1. Mouse is given an injection to stimulate antigen production.
2. Specific B lymphocytes producing the correct antibody are isolated and removed.
3. That B lymphocyte fuses with a tumor cell to produce a hybridoma cell.
4. That hybridoma cells producing correct antibody is clones and many specific antibodies are then produced called MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES.

Question 6

What are the uses of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 6

1. Diagnosis (eg. pregnancy tests)
2. Treatment (eg, cancer- they prevent the growth-stimulating molecule from attaching, and/or carry cytotoxic or radioactive drug)

Question 7

Why are monoclonal antibodies good for treatment?

Answer 7

Not toxic and highly specific, therefore, leading to very few side effects.

Question 8

What could be ethically wrong/ to be considered in producing/using monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 8

1. Requires induced disease/cancer in animals/mice.
2. Testing can be dangerous for volunteers
3. Issues around informed consent