Different kinds of immunoglobulins have distinct structures. Some immunoglobulins contain lengthy hinge areas between the Fab and Fc regions, whereas others do not, as seen in the graphic below: The hinge region provides movement flexibility to the Fab regions. This is most likely to affect which of the following immunoglobulin properties?

Question

Different kinds of immunoglobulins have distinct structures. Some immunoglobulins contain lengthy hinge areas between the Fab and Fc regions, whereas others do not, as seen in the graphic below:  The hinge region provides movement flexibility to the Fab regions.  This is most likely to affect which of the following immunoglobulin properties?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: IgG, IgA, and IgD immunoglobulins feature a hinge area between the Fab and Fc fragments. The hinge region improves the flexibility of the Fab arms, increasing the likelihood that the antibody will bind to more than one spot on the antigen. This improves immunoglobulin avidity but renders it more vulnerable to degradation by bacterial proteases.

Different Kinds of Immunoglobulins Have Distinct Structures