Dr. Campos decided to synthesize a small novel organic compound of around 300 mo
ID: 54456 • Letter: D
Question
Dr. Campos decided to synthesize a small novel organic compound of around 300 molecular weight which was truly unique ('Compound C"), and didn't resemble any known biological molecule in the least. He then challenged Dr. Mowshowitz to prepare an antibody against it. "Not fair," Dr. Mowshowitz said. "The compound is too small. But I can do it if I'm allowed to attach it to a large protein." Dr. Campos said. "Go ahead! The immune system will never recognize this molecule Ifs too weird." So Dr. Mowshowitz attached the compound to Chicken Serum Albumin and immunized Dr. Chasin with a series of injections. When Dr. Chasin s serum was tested they found that Dr. Chasin had reacted by making antibody molecules that recognized epitopes on Chicken Serum Albumin. as well as antibody molecules that recognized Compound C. In fact, MOST of the antibody was specific for compound C! Why was most of the response to Compound C?Explanation / Answer
The Chicken Serum albumin is also known as alpha livetin, is a proetin that is present in Yolk of Chicken egg. Dr.Chasin should be already exposed to the antigen (Chicken serum albumin) by consuming of chicken eggs. The antibodies would be formed when he consumed egg for the first time. And the memory for chicken serum albumin is already in his immune system. Hence everytime he takes egg, the antibodies are already there in his blood. But the compound "C" is entirely new to the immune system of Dr.Chase. Because there is no previous exposure of the compound to his immune system the antibody titires are found to be high for compound "C" than the Chicken Serum albumin. High amounts of anitbodies were produced against compound "C" to neutralize it.
In short, the chicken serum albumin is not a new antigen, whereas the compound "C" is a newly introduced antigen in his body, hence more antibody produced for compound "C".
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