Learning Objectives

• Discuss antigen receptors ,their functions and structures
• Describe different antibody isotypes and their functions
• Discuss the important steps in B cell development and activation
• Explain how antigen receptor diversity is generated and why it’s important

Lymphocyte Antigen Receptors

• what are the 2 types of lymphocyte Ag receptors?
• what is the difference between the variable (V) and constant (C) regions?
• what is an epitope/ antigenic determinant?
• what are complementarity-determining regions (CDRs)?
• how can a particular Ag activate multiple receptors?
• why is having a high diversity of Ag receptors important?

Immunoglobulins

• what are the 2 different forms of Ig?
• what are the structural features of antibodies?
• what are the 4 key functions of antibodies?
• what are the medical applications of antibodies?
• what are the 5 Ig isotypes? what makes them different?
• normally, what is the most and least abundant antibodies in humans?