Lecture 19-23: Proteins of the Immune System Flashcards
What are the five types of human antibody ?
- IgA
- IgD
- IgE
- IgG
- IgM
How many types is there of IgA ?
2
How many types is there of IgD?
1
How many types is there of IgE ?
1
How many types is there of IgG ?
4
How many types is there of IgM ?
1
Where is IgA found ?
Mucosal areas such as the gut, respiratory tract, and urogenital tract. Also saliva, tears and breast milk
What do IgA antibodies form ?
Complexes that bind to multiple antigen molecules
What does IgD function as ?
An antigen receptor on B that have not been exposed to antigens
What does IgD activate ?
Basophils and mast cells
What does IgD’s activation of basophils and mast cells produce ?
Antimicrobial factors
What is the function of IgE ?
Binds to allergens and triggers histamine release from mast cells and basophils, protects against parasitic worms
What is the function of IgG ?
Provides the majority of antibody-based immunity against invading pathogens
What is the special function of IgG ?
The only antibody capable of crossing the placenta to give passive immunity to fetus
Where is IgM expressed ?
On the surface of B cells in a monomer form and in a secreted form (pentamer) with high avidity
What is the function of IgM ?
Eliminates pathogens in the early stages of B-cell mediated immunity before there is sufficient IgG
What are the outcomes of antibody production ?
- Antibody secretion
- Isotype switching
- Affinity maturation
- Memory B cell
What is the steps in antibody production by B-cells and plasma cells (T-cell dependent) ?
- Immunoglobulin receptors on B-cell surface recognise and attach to antigen which is then internalised and processed
- A fragment of the antigen combines with HLA class II -displayed on the B-cell surface
- Receptor on the T helper cell recognises complex of HLA class II and antigen fragment and is activated producing cytokines, which activate B-cell
- B cell is activated by cytokines and begins clonal expansion- some of the progeny become antibody producing plasma cells
What is the structure of an immunoglobulin ?
- Two fab regions
- Hinge region
- Fc region
What type of molecules are antibodies ?
Dynamic and flexible
How was the importance and fragility of the flexible hinge discovered ?
Cryo-electron tomography and particle electron tomography
How many immuglobulin regions does a light chain consist of ?
2
How many immunoglobulin domains does a heavy chain consist of ?
4
What type of cleavage site does an immunoglobulin have ?
Papain
What is the structure of immunoglobulin domains ?
- Two beta antiparallel sheets that surrounds a hydrophobic core
- One disulphide bond bridges the sheets
- Three loops present at one end of the structure form a potential binding surface
What provides the vast repertoire of immunoglobulin domains ?
Variations of the amino acid sequences of these loops
What binds to the complementarity determining regions or loops ?
Antibodies
How is a binding surface formed ?
Six complementarity determining regions come together
What are the characteristics of the immunoglobulin fold of the light chain constant region ?
3 plus 4 strands
What are the characteristics of the immunoglobulin fold of the variable region ?
4 plus 5 strands
What has a diversity region ?
Heavy chain
What are the two types of light chains ?
- Kappa
- Lambda
What are the first antibodies expressed ?
IgM and IgD
Where are nucleases only expressed ?
B-cells
Where are membrane bound and secreted forms of IgM expressed from ?
The same heavy chain locus
Where is the lambda light chain locus ?
Chromosome 22
Where is the kappa light chain locus ?
Chromosome 2
Where is the heavy chain locus ?
Chromosome 14
What is the organisation of heavy an light gene loci mediated by ?
VDJ recombinase enzyme, RAG1 and Rag 1 and other enzymes
What are variable gene regions constructed from ?
Gene regions
What is rearrangement/recombination of variable gene segments guided by ?
Flanking DNA/Signal sequences
How long are Ig domains in antibodies ?
70-110 amino acids
What are the steps in genetic recombination (VDJ) ?
- D to J recombination
- V to DJ recombination
- Transcription and splicing
- Translation and assembly
Where does genetic recombination in immunoglobulins occur ?
Developing lymphocytes including B and T cells
What does genetic recombination involve ?
Somatic hypermutation/recombination
What is each immunoglobulin composed of ?
Heavy and light chain
What does every heavy and light chain contain ?
Multiple copies of each gene segment (constant, variable, diversity and joining)
What does the light segment not contain ?
Diversity segment
What are the key enzymes in genetic recombination in immunoglobulins ?
Recombination activating genes 1 and 2 (Rag 1 and 2), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasae and a nuclease (artemis nuclease)
How does class switching occur ?
Changing constant regions