Antibodies_Goldstein

Antibodies are crucial to the immune system. An antibody is a protein in the blood produced by white blood cells called lymphocytes to combat antigens, or toxic substances. Antibodies are Y-shaped with two immunoglobin heavy chains and two light chains (one on either side) connected by disulfide bonds.There is, however, more than one type of antibody; all allocated to different parts of the body with different functions. They search your blood stream for foreign substances, and bind one to each arm (of the “Y”) at the antigen binding sites that act as a lock to be destroyed by phagocytosis — being “eaten” by immune cells. The shape of the antibody is also useful for single large antigens to give the antibody a better grip.

Basic structure of an antibody

Antibody Types

Types of antibodies, their characteristics, and where they’re located