Antigen Receptor Diversity

Question 1

What is antigen receptor diversity a result of ?

Answer 1

• gene rearrangment/recombination due to the unique ability of B cell-Ig and TCR genes to move & rearrange themselves

Question 2

What are the 4 receptor diversification mechanisms?

Answer 2

1. somatic recombination = random recombination of gene segments
2. Junctional diversity = addition of P&N nucleotides
3. Random H & L combination
4. Somatic Hypermutation = receptor editing

Question 3

Where does the 1st three receptor diversification mechanisms occur ?

Answer 3

• in a developing B cell

Question 4

Where does somatic hypermutation occur ?

Answer 4

• Occurs after a B cell encounters an antigen