Antibodies

[sunshine02]

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What does it exactly mean for antibodies to cross-link to one another? Is it kind of like steric hindrance where they "bump" into each other or is there a noncovalent interaction going on?

I could only find info on antibodies crosslinking with beads and not antibodies, so thanks for the help!

 

[sunshine02]

bump

 

[Czarcasm]

What does it exactly mean for antibodies to cross-link to one another? Is it kind of like steric hindrance where they "bump" into each other or is there a noncovalent interaction going on?

I could only find info on antibodies crosslinking with beads and not antibodies, so thanks for the help!

Depends on what you mean by cross-linkage. There's a linkage protein that connects IgA dimers to each other, while IgM pentamers are linked to each other by a similar protein. You could also bind various substances covalently to the Fc region of the antibody (for instance: Paramagnetic beads, Fluorescent Dyes, etc).

Specifically, this might be useful in certain instances where you're attempting to isolate a specific compound or structure, or to distinguish certain features of a cell. Infact, this was how the fluid-mosaic model for the lipid bilayer of cells was deduced. There are many other useful techniques utilized with antibodies as well. For example, the antibodies can be attached to a column via their Fc Region (immunoaffinity chromatography). This allows the antigen-specific portion of the antibody to bind to a certain structure (for example a specific protein a mixture of other proteins), which in turn allows its separation. By isolating this protein, it can be studied in further detail.

 

[StIGMA]

This could also be referring to crosslinks within an antibody molecule. The disulfide (cystine) bonds between the light and heavy chains, and between the 2 heavy chains, are technically cross-links. In this context, it is an essential component to the structure of an individual antibody molecule. IgM and IgA form antibody pentamers and dimers, respectively, partially mediated by intermolecular crosslinks (disulfide cystine bonds).

 

[Czarcasm]

This could also be referring to crosslinks within an antibody molecule. The disulfide (cystine) bonds between the light and heavy chains, and between the 2 heavy chains, are technically cross-links. In this context, it is an essential component to the structure of an individual antibody molecule. IgM and IgA form antibody pentamers and dimers, respectively, partially mediated by intermolecular crosslinks (disulfide cystine bonds).

Yes, totally disregarded that. Glad you brought it up.

 

[ketosisevangelist]

This could also be referring to crosslinks within an antibody molecule. The disulfide (cystine) bonds between the light and heavy chains, and between the 2 heavy chains, are technically cross-links. In this context, it is an essential component to the structure of an individual antibody molecule. IgM and IgA form antibody pentamers and dimers, respectively, partially mediated by intermolecular crosslinks (disulfide cystine bonds).

From what I read and understand, IgA is a monomer in the blood and a dimer in secretions.

Also remember where your disulfide bonds are found. From what I understand the list includes Prolactin, Insulin, GH, and Inhibin.

Okay. Add IgG to this list of disulfide bond containing entities too.

Great post! Best luck.