Explain the structure and biological functions of IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, and their differences between them.
"Ig" denotes immunoglobulin, also known as antibody. It plays a very vital role in human body to identify and neutralize any foreign particles or pathogens like virus & bacteria. It is a form of protein and part of human's immune system, which helps in detecting harmful or foreign particles. It have a specialized Y-shaped features which binds with the foreign substance and kill or immobilize it. Eg: An antibody binding with a toxin, neutralize its poison by simply changing its chemical composition. These are called antitoxins.
Each antibody is identical to antigen receptor of B cell which produced it. ( B- cell is a type of White blood cell)
BASIC STRUCTURE INVOLVES: two pairs of polypeptide chains ( which are the constituent of amino acids linked by peptide bonds ) and forms a flexible Y shape. Y shaped consists :
- one stem
- Two arms composed of heavy chain with a small protein called light chain
Therefore each antibody contains of two antigen binding sites , each on both the ends of the arm. And this arrangement makes the antigen binding sites vary greatly among antibodies.
Antibody have different types:
IgG,IgM,IgA and IgE
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