The document provides a comprehensive overview of immunoglobulins, highlighting their definitions, structure, and functions as antibodies produced by plasma cells. It details the various classes and subclasses of human immunoglobulins, their structural components such as heavy and light chains, and their specific roles in immune response. Additionally, the text discusses the functional relationships of immunoglobulin fragments, including their binding capabilities and effector functions.

1. Immunoglobulins:
Structure and Function

2. Immunoglobulins:Structure and Function
• Definition: Glycoprotein molecules that are
produced by plasma cells in response to an
immunogen and which function as antibodies
Immune serum
Ag adsorbed serum
α1 α2 β γ
+ -
albumin
globulins
Mobility
Amount
of
protein

3. General Functions of
Immunoglobulins
• Effector functions
– Fixation of complement
– Binding to various cells
(Usually require Ag binding)
• Ag binding
– Can result in protection
– Valence

4. Basic Immunoglobulin Structure
• Immunoglobulins - heterogeneous
• Myeloma proteins - homogeneous
immunoglobulins

5. Immunoglobulin Structure
• Heavy & Light
Chains
• Disulfide bonds
– Inter-chain
– Intra-chain
CH1
VL
CL
VH
CH2 CH3
Hinge Region
Carbohydrate
Disulfide bond

6. Immunoglobulin Structure
• Variable &
Constant Regions
– VL & CL
– VH & CH
• Hinge Region CH1
VL
CL
VH
CH2 CH3
Hinge Region
Carbohydrate
Disulfide bond

7. Immunoglobulin Structure
• Domains
– VL & CL
– VH & CH1 - CH3
(or CH4)
• Oligosaccharides
CH1
VL
CL
VH
CH2 CH3
Hinge Region
Carbohydrate
Disulfide bond

8. IgG molecule
Used with permission from: Dr. Mike Clark, Immunology
Division, Department of Pathology Cambridge University,
Cambridge, England

9. Structure of the Variable Region
• Hypervariable (HVR) or complimentarity
determining regions (CDR) HVR3
FR1 FR2 FR3 FR4
HVR1
HVR2
Variability
Index
25 75
50 100
Amino acid residue
150
100
50
0
• Framework regions

10. Immunoglobulin Fragments:
Structure/Function Relationships
• Fab
– Ag binding
– Valence = 1
– Specificity
determined by VH
and VL
Papain
Fc
Fab
• Fc
– Effector functions

11. Immunoglobulin Fragments:
Structure/Function Relationships
Ag Binding
Complement Binding Site
Placental Transfer
Binding to Fc
Receptors

12. Immunoglobulin Fragments:
Structure/Function Relationships
• Fab
– Ag binding
• Fc
– Effector functions
• F(ab’)2
Pepsin
Fc
Peptides
F(ab’)2

13. Human Immunoglobulin Classes
• IgG - Gamma (γ) heavy chains
• IgM - Mu (µ) heavy chains
• IgA - Alpha (α) heavy chains
• IgD - Delta (δ) heavy chains
• IgE - Epsilon (ε) heavy chains

14. Human Immunoglobulin Subclasses
• IgG Subclasses
– IgG1 - Gamma 1 (γ1) heavy chains
– IgG2 - Gamma 2 (γ2) heavy chains
– IgG3 - Gamma 3 (γ3) heavy chains
– IgG4 - Gamma 4 (γ4) heavy chains
• IgA subclasses
– IgA1 - Alpha 1 (α1) heavy chains
– IgA2 - Alpha 2 (α2) heavy chains

15. Human Immunoglobulin
Light Chain Types
• Kappa (κ)
• Lambda (λ)

16. Human Immunoglobulin
Light Chain Subtypes
• Lambda light chains
– Lambda 1 (λ1)
– Lambda 2 (λ2)
– Lambda 3 (λ3)
– Lambda 4 (λ4)

17. Immunoglobulins
• Nomenclature
– IgM (kappa)
– IgA1(lambda 2)
– IgG
• Heterogeneity

18. IgG
• Structure
– Monomer (7S)
IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 IgG3

19. IgG
• Structure
• Properties
– Major serum Ig (systemic immunity)
– Major Ig in extravascular spaces
– Placental transfer – Does not require Ag
binding (± IgG2)
– Fixes complement (± IgG4)
– Binds to Fc receptors (± IgG2, IgG4)
• Phagocytes - opsonization
• K cells - ADCC

20. IgM
• Structure
– Pentamer (19S)
– Extra domain (CH4)
– J chain
Cµ4
J Chain

21. IgM
• Structure
• Properties
– 3rd highest serum Ig
– First Ig made by fetus
and B cells
– Fixes complement

22. Fixation of C1 by IgG and IgM Abs
No activation Activation

23. IgM
• Structure
• Properties
– 3rd highest serum Ig
– First Ig made by fetus
and B cells
– Fixes complement
Tail
Piece
– Agglutinating Ig
– Binds to Fc receptors
– B cell surface Ig

24. B Cell Antigen Receptor (BcR)
Ig-α
Ig-β Ig-β
Ig-α

25. IgA
• Structure
– Serum - monomer
– Secretions (sIgA)
• Dimer (11S)
• J chain
• Secretory component
J Chain
Secretory Piece

26. Origin of Secretory Component of sIgA

27. IgA
• Structure
• Properties
– 2nd highest serum Ig
– Major secretory Ig (Mucosal or Local Immunity)
• Tears, saliva, gastric and pulmonary secretions
– Does not fix complement (unless aggregated)
– Binds to Fc receptors on some cells

28. IgD
• Structure
– Monomer
– Tail piece
Tail Piece

29. IgD
• Structure
• Properties
– 4th highest serum Ig
– B cell surface Ig
– Does not bind complement

30. IgE
• Structure
– Monomer
– Extra domain (CH4)
Cε4

31. IgE
• Structure
• Properties
– Least common serum Ig
• Binds to basophils and mast cells (Does not require
Ag binding)
– Allergic reactions
– Parasitic infections (Helminths)
• Binds to Fc receptor on eosinophils
– Does not fix complement