The Variation and Adaptive Expression of Antibodies / George P. Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, George P., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biowissenschaften, Biologie.

Immunogenetics.

Immunoglobulins.

Antibody Formation.

SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology.

Local Subjects:

Antibody Formation.

Immunogenetics.

Immunoglobulins.

SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (231 p.)

Edition:

Reprint 2014

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

During the past ten years, several theories have been proposed on the origin of the diversity of antibodies. George P. Smith presents a critical study of these theories in this detailed treatment of immunological problems from the point of view of molecular genetics. Mr. Smith uses a new and simplifying approach to this long-standing controversy. By a comprehensive computerized analysis of antibody amino acid sequences (particularly the myeloma proteins), the author traces their evolution and matches his results against the expectations of the various theories of diversity. He discusses at length the other types of evidence as well. Mr. Smith also deals with the clonal specialization of cells to produce a single antibody, and the relationship of this specialization to the somatic joining of antibody half-genes, which is one of the immune system's most important peculiarities. Introductory material is provided to make this work understandable to molecular geneticists not versed in immunology and to immunologists not versed in molecular genetics. This is a timely book offering a succinct and coherent summary of the various lines of evidence in a confused and controversial field.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Preface

Contents

Tables and Figures

Chapter 1. Introduction to the Immune Response

Chapter 2. The Basic Structure of Immunoglobulins

Chapter 3. Reconstructing Protein Evolution

Chapter 4. The Evolution of C Regions

Chapter 5. Theories of Antibody Diversity

Chapter 6. The Evolution of V Regions: The Case for the Germline Theory

Chapter 7. Species Specificity and Allotypes in V Regions: Evidence against the Germline Theory

Chapter 8. The Clonal Selection Theory

Chapter 9. The Joining of V and C Regions: Theories of Cell Commitment

Appendixes. References. Index

References

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

ISBN:

0-674-36514-3

OCLC:

1013938185