Final answer:
The heavy chain of antibodies consists of multiple loci including VH, DH, JH, and CH, each playing a crucial role in the antibody's specificity and function. These loci contribute to the vast diversity of the immune response by undergoing genetic rearrangement during B cell development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The heavy chain of an antibody contains multiple loci that are vital for its structure and function. The loci for the heavy chain include:
- VH (Variable Heavy chain): This region is responsible for the antigen-binding specificity of the antibody.
- DH (Diversity Heavy chain): The DH segment contributes to the diversity of the antigen-binding region.
- JH (Joining Heavy chain): This region joins the DH and VH segments during antibody synthesis.
- CH (Constant Heavy chain): The CH segment defines the antibody's effector functions by interacting with other elements of the immune system.
Each heavy chain consists of one VH, several DH, and JH segments, which undergo recombination to create a vast diversity of antibodies. Moreover, the CH region is composed of three or four domains (CH1, CH2, CH3, and sometimes CH4), depending on the antibody class. Recombination and splicing events in these loci result in a unique heavy chain for each B cell.