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

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter HUP e-dition: Complete eBook Package
• VerfasserIn: Smith, George P.,
• Place / Publishing House: Cambridge, MA : : Harvard University Press, , [2013]; ©1973
• Year of Publication: 2013
• Edition: Reprint 2014
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (219 p.)

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.

Table of 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