Protein Synthesis Essay

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Protein Synthesis and its role in producing antibodies in b lymphocytes B lymphocytes White blood cells are made by the human body to help fight infection. There are two main types of white blood cell or Leukocytes; lymphocytes and neutrophils. B lymphocytes play a large role in the immune response. The principal function of b lymphocytes is to produce antibodies to fight antigens. B lymphocytes perform the role of antigen presenting cells (APC’s) and eventually develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction. T helper cells activate the b cells to form a large clone of plasma cells, b effector cells that produce antibodies. In humans, immature b cells are formed in bone marrow before birth. After reaching the immature stage in the bone marrow they migrate to the spleen, where they are called transitional b cells. Some of these cells terminally differentiate into mature b lymphocytes. This usually happens in the lymph nodes. Unlike T-cells, b lymphocytes do not circulate in the blood; their home is the lymphatic system. When an antigen is present, T-cells or macrophages present the invaders to the b lymph cells, where it determines its size and shape, it then makes an antibody. These antibodies then move through the body and attach themselves to the microorganism which makes them harmless and held until the macrophages or neutrophils come and devour them. The antibody made is a gamma globulin protein, called immunoglobulin. These are part of the immune system. Both the T helper and b cells survive as memory cells until a second exposure to the same antigen brings about a rapid secondary response. Protein Synthesis Proteins play a vital role in the metabolism and structure of all living organisms. Protein molecules come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, this versatility of the shape is key to the role of proteins. All proteins are

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