Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, antibodies, and T cell receptors are all highly variable so that they can interact with a large number of different antigens
How is variability generated for each of these important antigen-binding proteins?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: MHC proteins are polygenic. Three different loci for the MHC I alpha chain are expressed simultaneously, resulting in the concomitant expression of up to 6 different MHC I on the surface of nucleated cells. MHC II proteins are also polygenic and have 6 different loci. Antibodies and T cell receptors are not polygenic. Each cell expresses only one type of antibody or T cell receptor. Diversity in antibodies and T cell receptors is generated during the maturation process of the B cells (for antibodies) and T cells (for T cell receptors). This diversity is generated by somatic recombination of tandem genes, random reassortment, hypermutation, and imprecise joining of exons during the maturation of T and B cells. Each mature B cell and T cell will express one unique antibody or T cell receptor that was created and selected for during maturation.
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