12.
6 The Specific Immune System – Exam Questions – antibodies
1. An antibody is an example of a protein molecule, which has a specific 3-dimensional shape.
The diagram below shows the structure of an antibody molecule.
constant region variable region
heavy polyp eptide
chains
light polypeptide
chain
(i) Outline how the structure of an antibody molecule is related to its function.
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[3]
(ii) Suggest why the base sequence in the genes for human antibodies is more similar to that
found in a chimp than to that found in a mouse.
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[2]
[Total 5 marks]
2. Below is a diagram showing the structure of a typical antibody.
hinge
region
binding
site
light
polypeptide
chain
constant
region disulphide
bridge
heavy
polypeptide
chain
(a) Name the type of cell that produces antibodies.
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[1]
(b) (i) State one function for each of the component parts listed below.
binding site .............................................................................................
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disulphide bridge ....................................................................................
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constant region ......................................................................................
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hinge region ...........................................................................................
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[4]
(ii) Explain why the part of the antibody molecule incorporating the binding site is often
called the variable region.
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[2]
[Total 7 marks]
9. The diagram below is a representation of the three-dimensional structure of an antibody
molecule. The shaded sections represent the heavy polypeptide chains. The diagram shows
two antigen molecules attached to the antibody.
antigen antigen
A S A
Anne White Biological Science Review 1993
(i) Select the letter P, Q, R or S, which identifies the position of a variable region of the
antibody shown in the diagram above.
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[1]
(ii) Explain why this antibody will bind only to antigen A.
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[2]
[Total 3 marks]
