by Jefri Schmidt

Antibodies:

jefri8 — 2015-02-09 01:28:10 UTC

A Glycoprotein

A simple summary of how antibodies work

shuanster — 2015-02-09 01:29:59 UTC

The structure of an antibody

jefri8 — 2015-02-09 01:35:17 UTC

How are antibodies produced?

jefri8 — 2015-02-09 01:38:53 UTC

B lymphocytes (B cells) create a single species of antibodies through synthesis, with each cell having a unique antigen bonding site. B cells develop from stem cells in bone marrow.These B cells create antibodies as cell-surface receptors and secreted molecules. As a receptor, the antibody is inserted into the plasma membrane, that activates pathways when antigens are binding. B cells secrete antibodies when they are still small lymphocytes. The purpose? Mass-producing antibody

Antibody at work

jefri8 — 2015-02-09 02:01:59 UTC

Where do antibodies exist?

shuanster — 2015-02-11 01:50:34 UTC

As B cells are produced in the bone marrow from the backbone, most organisms of the cordate phylum (organisms with vertebrae) are able to produce antibodies. Wherever antigens appear, antibodies will exist. Antibodies are limited to humans and other animals.

How do antibodies work?

shuanster — 2015-02-11 02:04:22 UTC

Antibodies are key in the human immune system. They function in a few different ways to keep invading organisms out. All invading organisms have a target called an antigen and antibodies bond to the site as they both have y-shaped ends as shown in the bottom illustration. One way is that they can bind a bunch of invading organisms together to make a clump of enemy cells, and its immobility makes it easier for white blood cells to eat them up. Another way is that they bond to antigens, which tags them as enemy cells, triggering phagocytes to come eat them up. Lastly, they can create inflammation, which prevents the spreading of the enemy cells as they are stuck. Like the lock and key model, each antigen has one antibody key.

Different types of antibodies

shuanster — 2015-02-11 02:28:18 UTC

Based on the amino acid sequence on the heavy chain region, antibodies can be classified into five types:

IgG - containing gamma heavy chain
IgM – containing mu heavy chain
IgA - containing alpha heavy chain
IgD – containing delta heavy chain
IgE – containing epsilon heavy chain

Antibody genes

shuanster — 2015-02-11 02:36:47 UTC

Homeostasis

jefri8 — 2015-02-11 04:02:08 UTC

Antibodies are vital components to the human body. what keep us healthy, and our cells from functioning properly. Without them, our immune system would be terrible, and essentially useless. The antibody acts as a wall to prevent a virus from attaching to its target, as the series of diagrams above show. Homeostasis would not occur without these antibodies. In a more specific example, secretory antibodies found in breast milk help maintain homeostasis by regulating gut microbiota and host gene expression.

Fun Facts

jefri8 — 2015-02-11 16:52:35 UTC

Pollen grains often cause allergic reactions like hayfever because the body often mistakes pollen grains as invading organisms, producing antibodies to fight the harmless pollen grains
Your body has antibodies that are for germs you have never met. This is called innate immunity
It is reported that in 2010, the US Market spent $2.2 billion on Rituxin, a brand name for rituximab, a newly discovered antibody

Sources

jefri8 — 2015-02-11 16:53:43 UTC

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-an-Antibody.aspx

http://biology.about.com/od/molecularbiology/ss/antibodies.htm

http://faculty.stcc.edu/AandP/AP/AP2pages/Units21to23/immune/abwork.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26884/

http://cnx.org/resources/79194ef7d3241bae93769ff4ced2fd50/Figure_42_03_03.jpg

http://www.pnas.org/content/111/8/3074

Transcription and Translation

jefri8 — 2015-02-13 04:00:57 UTC

As immunoglobulins are proteins, they must be transcribed and translated. They are synthesized by mRNA which transcribes the DNA and brings it out of the nucleus, to the ribosome, where it is translated by the tRNA. A strand of amino acids is released by the anticodons of the tRNA, forming peptide bonds until eventually a protein (immunoglobulin) is formed.