3.2.1 Producing Monoclonal Antibodies

• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Antibodies made from clones of a single type of cell.
• Recap of antibodies:

  1. Antibodies are small proteins produced by special white blood cells called B-lymphocytes.
  2. They bind to antigens on the surface of foreign material, such as bacteria.
  3. This marks the foreign material for destruction by our immune system.
• Where are monoclonal antibodies made?

  A laboratory.
• Steps in producing monoclonal antibodies:

  1. Inject an animal, like a mouse, with the antigen that we want our antibodies to bind to.
  2. Let the animal develop an immune response, and then isolate some of their B-lymphocytes (which will produce the antibody we want).
  3. Combine those B-lymphocytes with fast-dividing tumour cells to form hybridoma cells.
  4. Let these hybridoma cells divide rapidly in a petri dish.
  5. Collect and purify the monoclonal antibodies they produce.
• Which substances can we attach to the bottom of antibodies in order to locate or destroy specific types of cells?

  Radioactive material, drugs, and fluorescent proteins.
• What are two true statements about monoclonal antibodies?

  • Monoclonal antibodies are produced from clones of one antibody-producing cell.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of a single antibody.
• What do antibodies bind to?

  Antigens with a complementary shape.
• What type of cell produces antibodies?

  B-lymphocytes.
• What are lymphocytes combined with to make hybridoma cells?

  Tumour/cancer cells.
• What is a hybridoma cell?

  A hybridoma cell is a cell that is created by fusing a B cell (produces antibodies) with a cancerous myeloma cell.