Block A Antibody diversity Flashcards
(30 cards)
What are the 5 classes of antibodies
IgG IgA(dimmer) IgE IgD IgM(pentameter)
Antibodies
Glycoprotein molecules produced by B lymphocytes that can attach to specific antigens
Example sentence: Antibodies play a crucial role in the immune response.
Innate Immunity
The non-adaptive arm of the immune system that provides immediate defense against infections.
Acquired Immunity
The adaptive arm of the immune system, including cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immunity, that develops after exposure to pathogens.
Antibody Classes
Five classes of antibodies distinguished by their structure and physiological roles, with IgG further divided into four subclasses.
Heavy Chains
Part of antibodies that determine the isotype class, with two identical heavy chains in each antibody.
Light Chains
Part of antibodies that are identical to each other and form the antigen-binding region along with the heavy chains.
Hypervariable Regions
Also known as Complementarity-Determining Regions (CDRs), these regions make up the antibody combining site and are highly variable.
Framework Regions
Regions between CDRs that show less variability and form the structural framework of the antibody domain.
Paratope
Antigen binding site
Epitope
Small, accessible portion of an antigen that can be recognized.
Hydrophobic and van der Waals forces
Very short ranges and serve to pull together two surfaces that are complementary in shape
Antigen-Binding Site
The region on the antibody formed by the V regions of both heavy and light chains, providing specificity in antigen recognition.
Electrostatic interaction
More specific chemical interactions while strengthening the interaction overall
Complementarity-Determining Regions (CDRs)
The six hypervariable loops in the VH and VL domains that constitute the antigen-binding site of an antibody.
Three particular variable segments
Hypervariable regions (HV1, HV2 and HV3) in both VH and VL domains
V(D)J Recombination
A process in developing B cells where V, D, and J gene segments recombine to generate diverse antibody structures.
Junctional Diversity
The addition or removal of nucleotides at V(D)J junctions during recombination, enhancing antibody variability.
Somatic Hypermutation
A process introducing point mutations in antibody variable regions to increase diversity and specificity in antigen recognition.
Class Switch Recombination (CSR)
A mechanism allowing B cells to change the constant region of the antibody heavy chain, altering the antibody class.
Antibody Repertoire
The range of different antibodies produced by an organism, crucial for recognizing and neutralizing various pathogens.
Importance of Antibody diversity
V regions of any given antibody…. - Differ from those of every other
VH and VL domains
Three hypervariable loops
The six hypervariable loops
Complementarity-determining regions, CDRs