Basic Immunology Flashcards
Antibody structure, draw it and explain main parts (1 sentence each)
Fc region: binds various Fc receptors and blood proteins to activate immune system signaling and effector functions against targets. Related to the in vivo half life of Abs, lymphocyte activation, and affinity maturation. Is glycosylated at specific asparagine site, essential for structure of Fc and binding to FcRs
Hinge region: interface or linker between Fc and Fab regions. Allows rotational flexibility of Fab region.
Fab region: variable h and l chain regions linked to constant regions 1 and 2. Can be expressed without Fc region functionally. Mediates antigen recognition and neutralization.
Fv and Variable H/L regions: Vh is where all diversity is (VDJ segments present, hypervariable region). Fv loops directly interact with antigen via CDR, drive clonal identity and define ab structure and function.
a) Which two genomic changes do BCRs undergo
b) in which regions?
c) Which additional genomic change occurs which affects effector function but not binding affinity?
a) VDJ recombination and somatic hypermutation (SHM)
b) VDJ recombination generates CDR3H region on heavy chain and CDR3L region on light chain. SHM introduces point mutations into the variable heavy and light chains.
c) Class switch recombination (constant heavy chains are replaced IgG->IgM)
