Antibody Structure and BCR/TCR Signaling

For Immunology (Chapter 3 Day 3)

1. What types of molecules have immunoglobulin domains? The allowance for the loosely folded loops between beta-strands of the Ig domain to acquire different sequences is important for BCRs and TCRs.  Discuss this property with a focus on “CDRs”.
2. Draw the antibody (large is good!) as shown in figure 3-20. Add additional labels as are mentioned in figure 3-21.  Summarize the functions of all of the labeled parts.
3. Why does the heavy chain of an antibody determine the antibody’s “class”? Summarize the structural features of the different classes and subclasses of antibodies.
4. Which classes are membrane bound and which classes are secreted? Discuss the feature(s) that determine whether the antibody will remain surface bound (as a BCR) or secreted.
5. What region of an antibody is bound by anti-Fab, anti-Fc, anti-isotype, anti-allotype, and anti-idiotype antibodies? Explain your answer as if you were talking to someone that you had just taught antibody structure to.  (In other words, the descriptions in Table 3-3 seem rather technical.  Dumb it down for me.)
6. Compare and contrast the signaling pathways downstream of the BCR and the TCR. (This answer should summarize many pages in the book, so it could easily be lengthy.)