Biomaterial Database

The immunoglobulin hinge (interdomain) region. 1976

J B Adlersberg

The hinge region is a flexible amino acid stretch in the central part of the heavy chains of the IgG and IgA immunoglobulin classes, which links these 2 chains by disulfide bonds. It is rich in cysteine and proline amino acids, extremely variable in amino acid sequence, and has no resemblance to any other immunoglobulin region. The hinges in these 2 classes are compared and contrasted. Such a distinct molecular structure does not exist around the inter-heavy disulfide bonds of the other Ig classes, but a portion of the IgM heavy chain has similar properties to the gamma hinge. This similarity suggests one hypothesis for the genetic origin of the hinge region; data supporting 2 other hypotheses are also presented.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007070	Immunoglobulin A	Represents 15-20% of the human serum immunoglobulins, mostly as the 4-chain polymer in humans or dimer in other mammals. Secretory IgA (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A, SECRETORY) is the main immunoglobulin in secretions.	IgA,IgA Antibody,IgA1,IgA2,Antibody, IgA
D007072	Immunoglobulin D	An immunoglobulin which accounts for less than 1% of plasma immunoglobulin. It is found on the membrane of many circulating B LYMPHOCYTES.	IgD,IgD1,IgD2
D007073	Immunoglobulin E	An immunoglobulin associated with MAST CELLS. Overexpression has been associated with allergic hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE).	IgE
D007074	Immunoglobulin G	The major immunoglobulin isotype class in normal human serum. There are several isotype subclasses of IgG, for example, IgG1, IgG2A, and IgG2B.	Gamma Globulin, 7S,IgG,IgG Antibody,Allerglobuline,IgG(T),IgG1,IgG2,IgG2A,IgG2B,IgG3,IgG4,Immunoglobulin GT,Polyglobin,7S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgG,GT, Immunoglobulin
D007075	Immunoglobulin M	A class of immunoglobulin bearing mu chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN MU-CHAINS). IgM can fix COMPLEMENT. The name comes from its high molecular weight and originally was called a macroglobulin.	Gamma Globulin, 19S,IgM,IgM Antibody,IgM1,IgM2,19S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgM
D007143	Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains	The largest of polypeptide chains comprising immunoglobulins. They contain 450 to 600 amino acid residues per chain, and have molecular weights of 51-72 kDa.	Immunoglobulins, Heavy-Chain,Heavy-Chain Immunoglobulins,Ig Heavy Chains,Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain,Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Subgroup VH-I,Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Subgroup VH-III,Heavy Chain Immunoglobulins,Heavy Chain, Immunoglobulin,Heavy Chains, Ig,Heavy Chains, Immunoglobulin,Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Subgroup VH I,Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Subgroup VH III,Immunoglobulins, Heavy Chain
D008968	Molecular Conformation	The characteristic three-dimensional shape of a molecule.	Molecular Configuration,3D Molecular Structure,Configuration, Molecular,Molecular Structure, Three Dimensional,Three Dimensional Molecular Structure,3D Molecular Structures,Configurations, Molecular,Conformation, Molecular,Conformations, Molecular,Molecular Configurations,Molecular Conformations,Molecular Structure, 3D,Molecular Structures, 3D,Structure, 3D Molecular,Structures, 3D Molecular
D011392	Proline	A non-essential amino acid that is synthesized from GLUTAMIC ACID. It is an essential component of COLLAGEN and is important for proper functioning of joints and tendons.	L-Proline,L Proline
D003545	Cysteine	A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form CYSTINE.	Cysteine Hydrochloride,Half-Cystine,L-Cysteine,Zinc Cysteinate,Half Cystine,L Cysteine
D004220	Disulfides	Chemical groups containing the covalent disulfide bonds -S-S-. The sulfur atoms can be bound to inorganic or organic moieties.	Disulfide