There is structural variation in antibody heavy chain constant regions.

1. There is structural variation in antibody heavy chain constant regions. These variations are critical for effector functions and are achieved in two different ways, RNA splicing and DNA switch recombination. The signals regulating these changes come from antigen binding to the B cell receptor and antigen specific T cells. During the immune response B cells mutate their immunoglobulin variable regions under the control of T cells and other signals.

6. Anatomical distribution of antibody classes IgM- blood IgG-blood, tissues, placenta IgA blood, gut, secretions IgE blood, epitheilia

7. Antibodies come in different classes 2 2 3 4

16. VDJ joining here creates heavy chain variable region domain D V Note: there are exons encoding the membrane and secreted forms of each of the antibody heavy chains.

17. The first antibody heavy chain type to be expressed is membrane IgM Note: there are membrane and secreted forms of each of the antibody heavy chain classes.

18. Prior to activation, B cells express two forms of antibody as membrane receptors, IgM and IgD. On any given cell, the antigen specificity is identical. This is accomplished by differential RNA splicing. IgM IgD

19. IgM IgM IgG

20. Characteristics of the antibody response Primary response -small amounts of antibody -IgM class -low affinity Secondary response -large(r) amounts of antibody -IgG and other classes -high(er) affinity

29. “Switching” to these classes requires DNA recombination and is distinct from V(D)J recombination.

31. B-cells can change their immunoglobulin class by DNA recombination. This is a distinct process from V(D)J recombination!

37. Accumulation of V-region point mutations during the antibody response.