Immunoglobulins Flashcards
clones
individual B cells, with their unique B-cell receptors, are referred to as clones
clonal expansion
when a B cell is activated, ONLY the specific clone that matches the antigen is replicated
beneficial functions of immunoglobulins (antibodies)
- neutralize toxins or viruses (prevent it from binding to its receptor)
- aid in the uptake and clearance of bacteria (opsonization)
- facilitate complement activation
negative functions of immunoglobulins (antibodies)
- cause autoimmunity
- cause allergies and other hypersensitivity reactions
basic structure of an immunoglobulin
-composed of 2 IDENTICAL heavy chains (50 kDa) AND 2 identical light chains (25 kDa)
*joined by disulfide bonds (inter-chain and intra-chain)
-composed of a VARIABLE region and a CONSTANT region (Fc)
*sialylation (addition of sialic acid) of the constant region
variable region of an immunoglobulin
*antigen binding site (formed by both the heavy AND light chains)
Fc region of immunoglobulins
the four Cs:
Constant
Carboxy terminal
Complement binds here
Carbohydrate side chains
Fab region of immunoglobulins
*fragment antigen binding site; at N terminus of the immunoglobulin
*where unique immunoglobulin binds to an antigen
*each BCR has a unique Fab region
**antigen binding requires contact with BOTH the heavy and light chains
antibody
the secreted form of the B cell receptor (BCR), also referred to as an immunoglobulin
*recognize and bind specific antigens via Fab
antigen
the specific molecule(s) of a pathogen to which an immune response is directed
epitope
the specific part or feature of an antigen which is RECOGNIZED by an antibody
how do antigens and antibodies interact
all of the NON-covalent forces
[electrostatic, hydrogen bonds, van der waals, hydrophobic]
do antigens and antibodies use covalent bonds to interact
NO!!
just non-covalent bonds
linear epitope
a type of antigen:antibody interaction in which amino acid residues are ADJACENT in the polypeptide chain
discontinuous epitope
a type of antigen:antibody interaction created from amino acid residues located in DIFFERENT PARTS of the polypeptide chain
*antibodies responding to tertiary protein structure/folding
sources of generation of antibody diversity
- combinatorial diversity
a) multiple germ line gene segments (V, D, J)
b) multiple heavy and light chain pairings - junctional diversity
- somatic hypermutation
combinatorial diversity: V(D)J recombination
-light chain: V and J segments
-heavy chain: V, D, and J segments
*RAG-1 and Rag-2 (components of VDJ recombinase) mediate gene rearrangements
*once the rearrangement occurs, it is permanent, and the DNA in that B cell is different than the DNA in other cells!!
*occurs during B cell development in the bone marrow
which chain (light or heavy) gets rearranged first during V(D)J recombination
heavy chain gets rearranged first
RAG-1 and RAG-2
components of the VDJ recombinase that are critical for rearrangement of genes in B cell development
combinatorial diversity: multiple heavy and light chain pairings
virtually any of the heavy chains can be paired with any of the light chains
junctional diversity
RANDOM addition of non-template nucleotides at the junctions between gene segments (V/D/J) upon gene rearrangement by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)