front 1 What is the central dogma? | back 1 DNA → RNA → Protein |
front 2 What is DNA recombination? | back 2 Exchange of DNA between regions/chromosomes |
front 3 Homologous vs non-homologous recombination? | back 3 Homologous = similar sequences Non-homologous = different sequences |
front 4 Key characteristics of antigen receptor diversity? | back 4 Massive diversity via DNA rearrangement → recognize many antigens |
front 5 Why is antigen receptor diversity important? | back 5 Pathogens are highly diverse |
front 6 Risks of receptor diversity? | back 6 Autoimmunity (self-reactivity), DNA damage/mutations |
front 7 Types of receptor diversification? | back 7 Combinatorial diversity and Junctional diversity, Combinatorial pairing, and (Somatic hypermutation – later) |
front 8 How are antigen receptor genes similar to normal genes? | back 8 Both use transcription + translation |
front 9 Key difference between antigen receptor genes similar to normal genes? | back 9 antigen receptor requires VDJ recombination first before transcription |
front 10 Which regions determine antigen binding? | back 10 Variable regions (CDRs) |
front 11 Structure of antibody? | back 11 2 heavy chains + 2 light chains |
front 12 Functions of variable and constant region? | back 12 Variable= antigen binding and Constant= function |
front 13 Membrane vs soluble Ig? | back 13 Membrane = BCR and Soluble = antibody |
front 14 Function of Igα and Igβ? | back 14 Transmits signal inside B cell |
front 15 Light chain regions contain? | back 15 Variable + constant |
front 16 Heavy chain regions contain? | back 16 V, D, J + constant |
front 17 Leader sequence function? | back 17 Directs protein to ER for processing and secretion |
front 18 What is RAG1 and 2 complex? | back 18 Enzymes for V(D)J recombination, cutting and rejoining DNA segments |
front 19 What are recombination signal sequences (RSS)? | back 19 DNA sequences recognized by RAG |
front 20 Components of RSS? | back 20 Heptamer + spacer (12/23) + nonamer |
front 21 What is the 12 | back 21 23 rule?/ Recombination only between 12 bp and 23 bp spacers |
front 22 Purpose of 12 | back 22 23 rule?/ Ensures correct segment joining |
front 23 Combinatorial diversity? | back 23 Different V, D, J combinations generating many receptor possibilities |
front 24 Junctional diversity? | back 24 Random nucleotide addition/removal creating huge variability |
front 25 What is TdT (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase? | back 25 Adds random nucleotides |
front 26 What is Artemis? | back 26 Opens DNA hairpins during recombination |
front 27 What is allelic exclusion? | back 27 One receptor specificity per cell |
front 28 How does allelic exclusion happen? | back 28 If one allele rearranges successfully: Stops rearrangement of the other allele which requires productive rearrangement |
front 29 Why more κ than λ? | back 29 κ rearranges first → if successful, λ not used |
front 30 Recombination vs splicing? | back 30 Recombination = DNA level (VDJ) while Splicing = RNA level (joins variable + constant) |
front 31 How does heavy chain variable attach to heavy chain constant? | back 31 via RNA splicing |
front 32 Why is constant region order important? | back 32 Determines antibody class |
front 33 Role of alternative splicing? | back 33 it controls: membrane vs secreted form and early isotype expression (e.g., IgM vs IgD) |
front 34 What is αβ T cells? | back 34 Most common, recognize peptide + MHC |
front 35 What is γδ T cells? | back 35 Less common, recognizing non-classical antigens and innate-like |
front 36 Similarities between B cell receptor and T cell rearrangement? | back 36 Both useV(D)J recombination, RAG, junctional diversity |
front 37 Differences between B cell receptor and T cell rearrangement? | back 37 BCR: secreted, hypermutation, class switching while TCR: membrane only, no hypermutation |
front 38 Components of TCR complex or CD3 complex? | back 38 TCR (α + β), CD3 (γ, δ, ε), and ζ chains |
front 39 Function of TCR complex or CD3 complex? | back 39 TCR recognizes antigen-MHC and CD3 and transmits signaling inside cell |
front 40 What creates antigen receptor diversity? | back 40 VDJ recombination + junctional diversity + pairing |