: It consists of two identical heavy chains (~50 kDa each) and two identical light chains (~25 kDa each), held together by disulfide bonds.
An , also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig) , is a specialized Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign substances like bacteria, viruses, and toxins. These invaders are known as antigens . 1. Structure of an Antibody antibody
The canonical antibody structure (typically IgG) is composed of four polypeptide chains: : It consists of two identical heavy chains
: Found at the tips of the "Y" arms, this region determines the antibody's specificity . It contains the paratope , which binds to a specific part of an antigen called an epitope . : Forms the base and lower parts of the arms
: Forms the base and lower parts of the arms. It determines the antibody's class and how it interacts with other parts of the immune system. Fab and Fc Fragments :
: The two arms that bind to antigens.
: The tail of the "Y" that communicates with immune cells to trigger a response. 2. The Five Classes of Antibodies Antibody Structure | Request PDF - ResearchGate