Antibodies Flashcards
1
Q
What are antibodies
A
- immunoglobulin protein produced as immune defense against foreign agents (antigens)
- each antibody has a region binding specifically to a particular antigen
- made of light and heavy chains
2
Q
Humoral Immune System
A
control of circulating pathogens
- B cell binds to antigen. T dependent B cell requires T helper cell.
- B cell differentiation + proliferation
- plasma cells proliferate and produce antibodies against antibody
3
Q
Cellular Immune System
A
control of intracellular pathogens
- T cell binds MHC-antigen complex activating the T cell
- activation of macrophage
- CD8 T cell becomes cytotoxic T lymphocyte able to induce apoptosis of target cell
- cytokines transform B cells into antibody providing plasma cells
4
Q
IgG structure
A
- S-S disulfide bonds connect hinge region and the light/heavy chains
- constant and variable sequences
- light chain: one variable and one constant
- heavy chain: one variable and three constant
5
Q
Light Chain seuqneces
A
- 2 domains
- 214 amino acids in two domains
- variable sequences have differences in the N terminal domain
- constant regions are identical in C terminal domain
6
Q
Heavy chain sequences
A
- heavy chain is 445 amino acids in 4 domains
- hinge gives flexibility to bind to antigen
- 1 variable and 3 constant domains
7
Q
Ig Fold
A
- B strand arrangement of B sandwich motif of sheets linked by loops
- loops are the CDRs with variation
- gives binding specificity
- L and H chain fold to yield 3 CDR in each chain to form walls of Ab binding groove
- therefore there are 3 CDR per subunit and 6 total forming the antigen binding site
8
Q
Benefits of catalytic antibodies
A
- high affinity and specific binding of an antibody
- non-toxic
- stabilise the TS
- but enzymes alone cannot be used in treatment : immune response from body
9
Q
Abzymes
A
- catalytic Abs having structural complementarity for the TS of an enzyme catalysed reaction
- strong binding of the TS with high association constant enhancing reaction rate
- reduce rotational entropy to reduce the free Gibbs energy of the reaction
- idea is antibody with high substrate affinity yet are able to have catalytic activity-
Abs bind TS to lower activation energy and enhance reaction rate - you need it to target TS and NOT the substrate
10
Q
Hapten
A
- small molecule reacting specifically with an antibody but is incapable of stimulating antibody production except in combination with an associated protein molecule
- hapten in combination with a larger protein becomes antigenic and can elicit and immune response
- will bind to antibody but if inject won’t provoke them
11
Q
Cocaine
A
- alkaloid from coca plant
- serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor
- nervous system stimulator increasing concentrations of the neurotransmitters (not reuptaken)
- TS hapten approach used to treat overdoses
12
Q
Cocaine Degradation
A
- degraded into inactive molecules prior to crossing blood brain barrier
- hydrolysis at benzoyl ester or the methyl ester
- non toxic secreted product
13
Q
Butyrylcholinesterase
A
- hydrolyses butyrylcholine
- hydrolyzes cocaine into methyl ester and benzoic acid
- can hydrolyze toxic compounds containing an ester
- human esterases are slow to degrade cocaine
14
Q
BChE Mechanism
A
- glutamate H bonds His to form base
- His deprotonates Ser-OH group
- Ser nucleophilically attacks the ester bond
- oxyanion hole stabilised by enzyme backbone
- His acts as conjugate acid to donate a proton
- release of choline
- His deprotonates water
- water attacks acetylated Ser
- charge delocalisation and oxyanion hole
15
Q
Cocaine Degradation by Cholinesterase
A
- Ser deprotonated by His to make acetylated intermediate
- oxyanion hole
- negative charge collapse
- pick up His proton
- release of product intermediate
- water deprotonated by His base
- nucleophilic attack on Ser
- 2nd intermediate and collapse
- His proton regenerates Ser active site
- similar to how the native substrate (butyrylcholine) operates
- promiscuity in esterase cleavage of ester bond in cocaine