A-level Biology Notes

what is an antibody?

-A globular protein

-Made by plasma cells

-has three regions: a variable region, a hinge group, constant region

-Variable region has a different shape in each antibody, contains the antigen binding sites, these bind to complementary antigens (on a pathogen) to form an antigen-antibody complex, destroying the pathogen.

-Hinge region gives antibody flexibility

-Constant region the same shape in all antibodies binds to figure sites to help with phagocytosis