Chapter 3 Review: Receptor-Ligand Interactions in Immunology

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from Chapter 3 of the lecture notes, focusing on receptor-ligand interactions, antibody structure, cytokines, and their roles in the immune system.

What is multivalency in biochemistry?

Multivalency refers to the presence of multiple binding sites on a single molecule, allowing for multiple interactions.

What does affinity measure in the context of receptor-ligand interactions?

Affinity measures the strength of the interaction between a single binding site and a specific ligand.

Define avidity in relation to ligands.

Avidity is the overall strength of the interaction between a molecule, considering all of its binding sites.

What effect does ligand binding have on proteins?

Ligand binding can induce dimerization or aggregation, which enhances affinity and facilitates signal transduction.

What are Complementary Determining Regions (CDRs) in antibodies?

CDRs are specific regions on antibodies that contact the antigen, contributing to the diversity of binding.

What are the different types of antibody heavy chains?

The five different heavy chain isotypes are IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.

What is the role of CD21 in relation to B cell receptors?

CD21 is a co-receptor that is important for the function of B cell receptors.

What is the function of cytokines in the immune system?

Cytokines are proteins that communicate between cells in the immune system and can induce various cell responses.

What is the difference between paracrine and autocrine signaling?

Paracrine signaling affects nearby cells, while autocrine signaling affects the same cell that produces the cytokine.

What are pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)?

PAMPs are unique patterns on pathogens that signal to the immune system that a foreign agent is present.

How do chemokines function in the immune response?

Chemokines are a subset of cytokines that attract leukocytes to sites of infection or inflammation.

What are immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs)?

ITAMs are docking sites on receptors that become phosphorylated and initiate signaling cascades inside the cell.

What is the significance of receptor clustering in immune signaling?

Receptor clustering enhances the signaling efficiency by increasing the effective concentration of receptors and ligands.

What is the role of classical cytokine families in inflammation?

Cytokines from the interleukin family generally promote inflammation, which is essential for an immune response.

What is the overall purpose of signal transduction in immune cells?

Signal transduction converts external signals from ligands into cellular responses, influencing cell behavior and function.

Describe the main function of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokines.

TNF cytokines were first identified for their ability to kill tumor cells and have a wide range of pro-inflammatory functions.