What is the function of the stem part of the Y-shaped antibody (that is, the part formed by the two heavy chains joined together)?

a. It recruits immune cells to destroy the antibody antigen clump.
b. It stimulates T cells to attack bacteria and other foreign cells.
c. It attaches to foreign antigens, producing a large antibody antigen clump.
d. It attaches the antibody to the B cell membrane.
e. It has proteolytic activity, degrading viral proteins.


A; The antibodies are soluble and not attached to cells (choice d). The arms of the Y bind the antigen (choice c), producing a clump. The stems stick out and facilitate phagocytosis of the clump by macrophages.

Biology & Microbiology

You might also like to view...

A widely used nontreponemal serologic assay is the ________ test

a. rapid plasma reagin (RPR) b. Treponema pallidum passive particle ag-glutination (TP-PA) c. fluorescent treponemal antibody absorp-tion test (FTA-ABS) d. microhemagglutination test for antibody to T. pallidum (MHA-TP)

Biology & Microbiology

The folds of the stomach are called

a. villi. b. microvilli. c. tight junctions. d. rugae. e. haustra.

Biology & Microbiology

The external skeleton of many invertebrates is made of:

A. cellulose B. starch C. glycogen D. chitin E. sucrose

Biology & Microbiology

A person's unique DNA is carried within some of the cells and tissues of their body. These include all of the following EXCEPT:

saliva. skin cells. intestines. white blood cells. All of the above contain a person's DNA.

Biology & Microbiology