Immunoglobulins Flashcards

IMMUNOGLOBULINS WIKIBLOOD FLASHCARDS

Immunoglobulins Structure and Function

Question	Answer	Article
What are immunoglobulins also known as?	Antibodies	Link to Answer Article
How many domains does the heavy chain have?	1 variable domain 3 or 4 constant domains	Link to Answer Article
How many domains does the light chain have?	1 variable domain 1 constant domain	Link to Answer Article
What are hypervariable domains?	Folded pockets of the variable domain into which antibody can bind Different antibodies have different amino acid sequences within the three variable domains	Link to Answer Article
What does Fab stand for and from which chain is it generated?	Fragment associated with antigen binding Light chain	Link to Answer Article
What does Fc stand for and from which chain is it generated?	Constant fragment Heavy chain	Link to Answer Article
What does the Fc fragment do?	Mediates phagocytosis Triggers inflammation Targets Ig to certain tissues	Link to Answer Article
What are the four major effects of antibodies?	Blockage and agglutination Promotion of phagocytosis Degranulation of mast cells/eosinophils Complement Fixation	Link to Answer Article

Classes of Immunoglobulin

Question	Answer	Article
How do the five classes of immunoglobulins vary from each other?	They each have a different composition to their heavy chains	Link to Answer Article
IgA is specially adapted for function at which type of surface?	Mucosal surfaces	Link to Answer Article
True or False: IgA is a monomer	False IgA is a dimer	Link to Answer Article
What are the functions of IgA?	Prevents agents from adhering to the epithelial surfaces as it binds to foreign antigen Resists proteolytic digestion so can function in the gut Does not activate the complement system so helps to preserve mucosal integrity	Link to Answer Article
In which species has IgD been identified?	Ruminants Pigs Dogs Rodents	Link to Answer Article
What is the main function of IgD?	Helps B cell development	Link to Answer Article
True or False: IgE is not a soluble antibody?	True	Link to Answer Article
What are the functions of IgE?	Triggers acute inflammation by causing degranulation Involved in type I hypersensitivity reactions Involved in producing immunity to parasitic worms and nematode parasites	Link to Answer Article
True or False: IgG is the smallest antibody and can easily leave the plasma and enter tissue?	True	Link to Answer Article
Where is IgG produced?	Bone marrow Spleen Lymph nodes	Link to Answer Article
What is the function of IgG?	Activates the classical pathway of the complement cascade Can act as targets for macrophages, eosinophils and neutrophils Causes agglutination and opsonisation of bacteria	Link to Answer Article
True or False: IgM is a monomer	True But it is secreted as a pentamer	Link to Answer Article
IgM is five times larger than most other antibodies. What effect does this have on its function?	Cannot cross the placenta Does not diffuse quickly or enter tissues readily Its concentration in extracellular fluid and lymph is low	Link to Answer Article
What are the main functions of IgM?	Complement activation Agglutination Opsonisation Virus neutralisation	Link to Answer Article

Immunoglobulins Variation

Question	Answer	Article
Which genes code for the immunoglobulin subtypes and on which chain are they located?	IGH genes Heavy chain	Link to Answer Article
Complete the sentences about IgG subtypes	Humans and rodents have four IgG subtypes. Dogs have three IgG subtypes. Ruminats have three or four IgG subtypes.	Link to Answer Article
What are allotypes?	Differences in immunoglobulins between individuals of a particular species Allotypes are inheritable	Link to Answer Article
What are idiotypes?	Variations in the sequences of amino acids in the variable regions of the light and heavy chains	Link to Answer Article
What is immunoglobulin heavy chain switching?	After antigenic exposure the IgM+ B-cells differentiate Only after direct influence of T cells Other classes of immunoglobluins are synthesised The same varibale domains are kept	Link to Answer Article
How do different classes of antibody differ from each other?	Size Charge Amino acid composition Associated carbohydrate Function	Link to Answer Article

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