They enhance phagocytosis in a process called opsonization, and activate the binding of proteins C1 through C9 in the complement cascade.
The genes coding for these molecules are purposefully mutated in a process called somatic hypermutation, and they sometimes undergo isotype switching. In a process discovered by Susumu Tonegawa, they are assembled by random selection of variable region, diversity, and joining segments, called V(D)J recombination. Both the nonspecific and specific type of these molecules are used in (*) ELISA. They enhance phagocytosis in a process called opsonization, and activate the binding of proteins C1 through C9 in the complement cascade. They fall into five major classes: G, A, M, D, and E. For 10 points, identify these bivalent Y-shaped proteins consisting of two light and two heavy chains, which recognize the epitopes of specific pathogens.
The genes coding for these molecules are purposefully mutated in a process called somatic hypermutation, and they sometimes undergo isotype switching.
{antibodies} [or {immunoglobulins}]