HYPERVARIABLE REGIONS Meaning and
Definition
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Hypervariable regions, also known as complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), are segments within the variable regions of antibody molecules or T-cell receptors that display high variability in amino acid sequence among different individuals. These regions correspond to specific stretches of DNA or RNA sequences that encode the part of the protein responsible for recognizing and binding to antigens, such as foreign molecules or viruses.
The hypervariable regions are located within the loops formed by the protein's primary structure. There are typically three hypervariable regions, called CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, within each antibody heavy and light chain and T-cell receptor molecule. These regions make direct contact with the antigen, allowing the immune system to specifically target and bind to a vast array of different antigens.
The high variability of hypervariable regions is crucial for the immune system's ability to respond to the wide range of pathogens encountered throughout an individual's life. The genetic diversity in these regions is generated through a process called somatic recombination, where gene segments encoding the hypervariable regions are shuffled and combined during the development of immune cells.
The hypervariable regions play a fundamental role in the generation of immune diversity and the effectiveness of the adaptive immune response. The ability to recognize and bind to a vast array of antigens makes these regions critical for immune surveillance, immune memory, and ultimately the immune system's ability to provide protection against infection and disease.
Common Misspellings for HYPERVARIABLE REGIONS
- gypervariable regions
- bypervariable regions
- nypervariable regions
- jypervariable regions
- uypervariable regions
- yypervariable regions
- htpervariable regions
- hgpervariable regions
- hhpervariable regions
- hupervariable regions
- h7pervariable regions
- h6pervariable regions
- hyoervariable regions
- hylervariable regions
- hy-ervariable regions
- hy0ervariable regions
- hypwrvariable regions
- hypsrvariable regions
- hypdrvariable regions
- hyprrvariable regions
Etymology of HYPERVARIABLE REGIONS
The word "Hypervariable" is derived from the combination of two terms: "hyper-" meaning excessive or beyond normal, and "variable" indicating something that can vary or change. The term "Hypervariable" was coined to describe regions within certain molecules that exhibit an exceptionally high degree of variability or diversity.
In the context of genetics and molecular biology, the concept of "Hypervariable Regions" originated from the study of antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to recognize and neutralize foreign substances (antigens) such as bacteria or viruses. Researchers observed that certain regions of antibody molecules exhibited an extraordinary level of variation among individuals. These regions were found to be responsible for the antibody's ability to recognize and bind to different antigens.
