Fab: arms, antigen binding site

Fc: tail of antibody

Variable: Fab part of the antibody (arms) (1/2 of it?)

Constant: Fc part of the antibody (tail)

Light Chain: 1/2 of the Fab (arm) part of the antibody

Heavy Chain: 1/2 of the Fab (arm) and all of the Fc (tail)

 Occlude (to close or block off) surface of toxin or pathogen

One of the antibody's functions

Bind pathogens or toxins into a large clump that is easily phagocytized

One of the functions of antibodies

Enhance phagocytosis

"Eat Me" Tag on pathogen

One of the functions of antibodies

The types of antibodies in the body

Based on the Fc part

IgG

Longest-lived

IgA

Most common antibody

When the first exposure involves mostly IgM and eventually some IgG

The second exposure (the memory) produces mostly IgG and is produced faster because the original IgG's produced hang out for years allowing for the stronger response

Gene cutting and pasting (but not in the sperm or egg)

Antibody genes are put together by combining parts

Rearrange the DNA in B-Cells

The groups that genes are arranged in

V = variable

D = diversity

J = joining

What some B-Cells turn into and they secrete antibodies (first IgM, the IgG or IgA)

T_H releases cytokines which causes B-Cells to divide to differentiate into either memory cells or plasma cells

T_H releases cytokines which causes B-Cells to divide to differentiate into either memory cells or plasma cells

They have a long life (years) and have IgD on their surface

Produces immune tolerance (tolerant to your own protein)

Used to eliminate B-Cells with receptors that recognize "self" cells

The two ways that clonal deletion of B-Cells can occur

1) In bone marrow any B cell that bind antigen are made to die (apoptosis)

2) In circulation any B cell that binds to antigen, but does NOT get activated by a T_H cell becomes unresponsive and eventually dies