Antibodies

Question 1

Antibodies are what type of proteins

Answer 1

globular glycoproteins called immunoglobulins

Question 2

Antibody what protein structure

what is its y shaped structure made up off

Answer 2

Antibodies have a quaternary structure (which is represented as Y-shaped),

with two ‘heavy’ (long) polypeptide chains bonded by disulfide bonds to two ‘light’ (short) polypeptide chains

Question 3

Each polypeptide chain has a ………region and …………..region

Answer 3

constant

variable

Question 4

The constant regions do not vary within a ……………(isotype) of antibodies but do vary between the ………

Answer 4

class

classes

Question 5

The constant region determines the mechanism used to

Answer 5

destroy the antigens

Question 6

There are ………..classes of mammalian antibodies each with different roles

Answer 6

5

Question 7

the amino acid sequence in the variable regions of the antibodies (where is it located?”) are different for each antibody. The variable region is where the antibody ………

Answer 7

the tips of the “Y”

the antibody attaches to the antigen to form an antigen-antibody complex

Question 8

At the end of the variable region is a site called the

Answer 8

antigen-binding site

Question 9

Each antigen-binding site is generally composed of 110 to 130 amino acids and includes both the ends of the

Answer 9

light and heavy chains

Question 10

The antigen-binding sites vary greatly giving the antibody its

Answer 10

specificity for binding to antigens

Question 11

The sites are specific to the epitope

what is the epitope

Answer 11

the part of the antigen that binds to the antibody)

Question 12

The antigen-binding sites vary greatly giving the antibody its specificity for binding to antigens. The sites are specific to the epitope (the part of the antigen that binds to the antibody)

A pathogen or virus may therefore present multiple antigens different antibodies need to be produced

Question 13

The ‘hinge’ region (where ………………….) gives

Answer 13

the disulfide bonds join the heavy chains

flexibility to the antibody molecule which allows the antigen-binding site to be placed at different angles when binding to antigens

region is not present in all classes of antibodies

Question 14

You must know that each antibody will have a different variable region with an antigen-binding site that matches one antigen or toxin produced by a pathogen. The antigen-binding site (and therefore the antibody) is specific to one antigen.