Immunoglobulins Flashcards
What are the different heavy chains of an antibody?
μ, γ, α, β, ε
What are the different light chains of an antibody?
κ, λ
What determines the specificity of the immunoglobulin?
Complementary Determining Regions (CDRs)
Why might we need Ab diversity?
Recognize Ag of pathogens
How is diversity of Ab achieved?
Somatic Recombination (VDJ)
What is the process of VDJ recombination?
- Stem cell (Germline DNA)
- Progenitor B cell - heavy chain rearrangment
- Precursor B cell - light chain rearrangement
- Immature B cell
- Mature B cell (VDJ rearranged DNA)
How many VDJ gene segments does the heavy chain contain?
Variable - 40
Diversity - 25
Joining - 6
How many VDJ gene segments does the light chain (λ) contain?
V - 30
D - N/A
J - 4
How many VDJ gene segments does the light chain (κ) contain?
V - 40
J - 5
How is the variable region formed?
- Germline DNA goes through somatic recombination to form D-J joined rearranged DNA
- D-J joined rearranged DNA goes through somatic recombination to form V-J or V-DJ joined rearranged DNA
- Then goes through transcription to form primary transcript RNA
- Splicing of RNA occurs to form mRNA
- mRNA undergoes translation to form polypeptide chain
What is the structure of a recombination signal sequence?
Heptamer - 7 bp
Spacer - 12 or 23 bp
Nonamer - 9 bp
What is the usual heptamer sequence?
CACAGTG
What is the usual nonamer sequence?
ACAAAAACC
What are the names of the two mechanisms used to make a recombination signal sequence?
- Hairpin loop
- Tangled configuration
What determines the classes of Ig?
Isotypes of heavy chain constant (CH) regions determine the classes of immunoglobulin, which are differentiated by large structural and functional differences.