20-21 - Antibodies Flashcards
(88 cards)
Which of the following statements about antibodies is false?
a) Also known as Immunoglobulins (Ig)
b) They are a secreted glycoprotein
c) They are a secreted glycolipid
d) Structure includes constant and variable regions
Which of the following statements about antibodies is false?
a) Also known as Immunoglobulins (Ig)
b) They are a secreted glycoprotein
c) They are a secreted glycolipid
d) Structure includes constant and variable regions
IgG has a structure consisting of how many chains?
4

The light chains of IgG are bound to the heavy chain by…
A disulphide bridge
The variable region of IgG is located at the ( N / C) terminal.
The variable region of IgG is located at the N terminal.
How many antigen binding sites are present on 1 IgG molecule (and where are they located)?
IgG has 2 antigen binding sites.
They are located at the N-terminal end
IgG is:
a) Secreted but never membrane bound
b) Always membrane bound
c) Neither secreted nor membrane bound
d) Secreted or membrane bound
IgG is:
a) Secreted but never membrane bound
b) Always membrane bound
c) Neither secreted nor membrane bound
d) Secreted or membrane bound
Membrane bound IgG forms part of the which receptor?
B cell receptor (BCR)
Enzymatic clevage of Ig (for example with papain protease) occurs at which area of the antibody?
Hinge region
Enzymatic clevage of IgG by papain results in 3 fragments, namely…
- 2x FAB (fragment, antigen binding)
- 1x FC (fragment, crystalisable)

State the two purposes of antibodies…
- Bind specifically to epitopes on antigen/pathogen
- Recruit cells and molecules to destroy antigen/pathogen
By binding to epitopes on the antigen/pathogen, antibodies can achieve (2)…
- Opsonisation (marking for phagocytosis)
- Neutralisation (of toxins)
The effector function of antibodies is the recruitment of cell and molecules to destroy the antigen/pathogen to which it is bound. This is mediated by which region?
Fc (constant) region
The antigenic determinant of an antigen or pathogen is known as the…
Epitope
To which part of an antigen does an antibody bind?
The epitope
A multivalent antigen has multiple what?
Epitopes
Multivalent antigens have:
a) repeated epitopes
b) multiple epitopes (repeated or varied)
c) varied epitopes
d) 3 or more epitopes
Multivalent antigens have:
a) repeated epitopes
b) multiple epitopes (repeated or varied)
c) varied epitopes
d) 3 or more epitopes
Protein antigens
Epitopes can occur in two configurations…
Linear (continuous) or conformational (discontinuous)

Bonding between antibody and antigen is:
a) Always covalent
b) Never covalent
c) Sometimes covalent
d) Only due to electrostatic forces
Bonding between antibody and antigen is:
a) Always covalent
b) Never covalent
c) Sometimes covalent
d) Only due to electrostatic forces
Distinguish between affinity and avidity of antibody binding…
Affinity is the strength of binding between an antibody binding site and a single epitope
Avidity is the overall strength of binding between an antibody and antigen
Given the definition of avidity, multivalent antigens* have:
a) Higher avidity
b) Lower avidity
c) N/A (does not affect avidity)
d) No avidity
*assuming affinity of epitopes is constant
Given the definition of avidity, multivalent antigens have:
a) Higher avidity
b) Lower avidity
c) N/A (does not affect avidity)
d) No avidity
Summarise the main interactions of antibodies and the associated region (3)…
- Bind to epitopes (V region)
- Interaction with Fc receptors (C region)
- Interaction with C1q to intiate complement (C region)
List 6 functions of antibodies…
- Neutralisation
- Agglutination
- Opsonisation
- Complement Activation
- Degranulation by Fc receptor (FcR) (i.e. mast cells)
- Cell recruitment by ADCC or activation of cells
ADCC = antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity
Opsonisation may be either direct or indirect.
In direct opsonisation antibodies bind directly to Fc receptors.
Describe indirect opsonisation…
Binding of antibodies leads to an increase in complement deposition on the pathogen, which can bind to complement receptors on phagocytes.
An antibody-antigen complex can initiate the classical complement pathway by binding to…
C1qrs










