Immunoglobulin heavy variable 5-10-1
1_MGSTA 6_ ILALL 11_ LAVLQ 16_ GVCAE 21_ VQLVQ 26_ SGAEV 31_ KKPGE 36_ SLRIS 41_ CKGSG 46_ YSFTS 51_ YWISW 56_ VRQMP 61_ GKGLE 66_ WMGRI 71_ DPSDS 76_ YTNYS 81_ PSFQG 86_ HVTIS 91_ ADKSI 96_ STAYL 101_ QWSSL 106_ KASDT 111_AMYYC
1: V region of the variable domain of immunoglobulin heavy chains that participates in the antigen recognition (PubMed:24600447). Immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, are membrane-bound or secreted glycoproteins produced by B lymphocytes. In the recognition phase of humoral immunity, the membrane-bound immunoglobulins serve as receptors which, upon binding of a specific antigen, trigger the clonal expansion and differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulins-secreting plasma cells. Secreted immunoglobulins mediate the effector phase of humoral immunity, which results in the elimination of bound antigens (PubMed:20176268, PubMed:22158414). The antigen binding site is formed by the variable domain of one heavy chain, together with that of its associated light chain. Thus, each immunoglobulin has two antigen binding sites with remarkable affinity for a particular antigen. The variable domains are assembled by a process called V-(D)-J rearrangement and can then be subjected to somatic hypermutations which, after exposure to antigen and selection, allow affinity maturation for a particular antigen (PubMed:17576170, PubMed:20176268)