THE IMMUNOGLOBINS: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

This book provides comprehensive up-to-date information on the structure and function of immunoglobulins. It describes the basic features of these molecules, which assists the reader in understanding how they function as an integral part of the immune system. The Immunoglobulins describes the localization and structure of different binding sites of immunoglobulin molecules, including the antigen-binding site, on the basis of latest x-ray crystallography studies. It discusses recently developed biotechnological methods that allow scientists to obtain fully active antibody molecules in vitro even without immunization and to construct new variants of immunoglobulins and their fragments by fusing with various other active molecules. A survey of recent knowledge on immunoglobulin-binding molecules other than antigens and on flexibility of immunoglobulin molecules concludes the discussion of functional aspects of the problem.