Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies produced from clones of one cell. This means they will be all be identical and so are specific to the binding site on one protein’s antigen, allowing them to target certain chemicals or cells.

Question 2

How do normal antibodies work?

Answer 2

• Antibodies are small proteins produced by lymphocytes
• Bind to antigen of foreign surface such as that of a bacterium
• Marks the pathogen for destruction by our immune system

Question 3

Give 4 uses of monoclonal antibodies

Answer 3

• Pregnancy tests
• Measuring levels of hormones and other chemicals in blood
• Locating specific molecules in a cell or tissue by binding to them with fluorescent dye
• Treating cancer (by attaching radioactive substance/toxic drug to antibody to bring them to cell)

Question 4

What is the main drawback of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 4

Monoclonal antibodies often create more side effects than expected.

Question 5

What are the steps to produce monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 5

• Inject animal (usually mouse) with antigen we want antibodies to bind to
• Collect lymphocytes produced by the animal in its immune response
• Add fast-dividing tumour cells to lymphocytes to produce hybridomas
• Let the hybridoma divide quickly in a Petri dish
• Collect and purify the monoclonal antibodies produced