Thursday, July 9, 2020

Antibody (Immunoglobulin)

Antibody:
Antibody also called immunoglobulin, a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen.
When an alien substance enters the body, the immune system is able to recognize it as foreign because molecules on the surface of the antigen differ from those found in the body.
Antibodies are produced by specialized white blood cells called B lymphocytes (or B cells). When an antigen binds to the B-cell surface, it stimulates the B cell to divide and mature into a group of identical cells called a clone. The mature B cells, called plasma cells, secrete millions of antibodies into the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Antibody structure:
The four-chain structure of an antibody, or immunoglobulin, molecule. The basic unit is composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains, which are held together by disulfide bonds to form a flexible Y shape. Each chain is composed of a variable (V) region and a constant (C) region.

Antibodies are grouped into five classes according to their constant region.
Each class is designated by a letter attached to an abbreviation of the word immunoglobulin: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE.


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