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"why are monoclonal antibodies specific? Use knowledge of protein struct to explain y

Thanks.
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Avatar for joshed
joshed
8
Is there an acutal question or is this question a teacher has set and you want us to answer it? What level of education are you as that will effect anyones answer they give?

So what is your question or what do you want help with?
Reply 2
Avatar for Hylean
Hylean
15
Do your own work!
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 3
Avatar for oz40
oz40
8
It's pretty simple. Just google Antibody specificity and you'll get loads of hits.
Reply 4
Avatar for KJane
KJane
15
Don't you have a course text book where you can find the answer? You can't say it won't have anything on either.
Do you have to compare monoclonal to polyclonal? Because the only difference is that polyclonal are a range of different antibodies each recognising a specific section (epitope) of the antigen, whereas monoclonal antibodies all recognise the same epitope, and so are more specific.

As for the specific protein structure, it involves variable regions, and immunoglobin folds and more detail than I am willing to type out. Do your own research
Original post by LiamtheDrummer
Thanks.


Antibodies are proteins. They bind to cells-surface molecules called "antigens"

Antigen-antibody interaction is like a lock-and-key mechanism.

Each antibody will have its own 3-D shape.
Which will only fit one antigen.

Monoclonal = a sample containing one type of antibody, so it will bind to only one antigen.

Polyclonal = a mix of antibodies, they usually bind to dissimilar, but related antigens.

Monoclonal antibodies are more expensive than polyclonal antibodies because they need to be purified first.
(edited 12 years ago)
answer: according to my bio alevel knowledge
antibodies are proteins so they have a specific primary structure therefore they will have a specific tertiary structure.
So only antigens that are complemenary will bind so the monoclonal antibody is specific

hope this helps:smile:

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