Question

(Please justify your answer)

The human immune system can generate approximately 10^5 different heavy chains and approximately 10^3 light chains. Any light chain can pair with any heavy chain, so there are 10^8 different antibodies that are possible. Camels lack light chains but have approximately the same level of diversity, about 10^7 different antibodies. How do you think their heavy chain gene differs from humans?

Answer 1

Ans. Structural details -

Camel VH, is small, robust and efficient recognition unit formed by a single immunoglobulin (Ig) domain.

It has very long third hypervariable loop, which is central for antigen recognition in their binding sites.

Camel VH biochemical, structural and antigen binding properties suggest that these can compete successfully with single chain variable domain (Fv) fragments from conventional antibodies in many applications.

VH domain acts as enzyme inhibitor.

Human antibody

Antibodies are glycoproteins.

Constitute most of the gamma globulin fraction of the blood proteins.

Antibodies are made of basic structural units—each with two large heavy chains and two small light chains.

The ability of antibodies to bind to antigen binding crystallizable fragment helps to direct the appropriate immune response for each different type of foreign object they encounter.

There are 5 types of human antibody namely

IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE

All are specific in their actions.