- Despite having the conserved immunoglobulin fold motif, immunoglobulins can bind many different types of antigens. 
- Amino acid variations lie at the immunoglobulins antigen-binding site.  


How do antibodies bind different antigens? 

- “arms” of the Y-shaped antibody 
- “ab” = antigen binding because these sections contain the antigen binding sites 
- Vary from IgG to IgG in the N-terminal halves, or the very tops of the chains – contain the variable region – two on each arm


Grand Valley State University

- The “C” = crystallizing easily 
- Stem of the antibody 
- Consists of two halves and connects the two arms at the hinge region.


IgG Heavy Chain (Fc)

Voet, D., Voet, J. G., & Pratt, C. W. (2013). Chapter 7: Protein Function: Myoglobin and Hemoglobin, Muscle Contractions, and Antibodies. In Fundamentals of biochemistry: Life at the molecular level (4th ed., pp. 176-216). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from archive.org.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After