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What are the properties of immunoglobulin G (IgG)?
Posted July 31, 2024

Answer

Properties of Immunoglobulin G (IgG): 

  • Is produced as part of the secondary immune response to an antigen and protects the body against infection by remembering which pathogens it has been exposed to previously
  • Is typically found as monomers 
  • Has an average half-life of 23 days
  • Is a small molecule capable of penetrating intracellular and extracellular spaces
  • Protects the growing fetus against infections and is the only isotype that traverses the placenta
  • Binds antigens with both low avidity and high affinity
  • Involved in mediating opsonisation due to their affinity for Fc receptors on phagocytic cells
  • Protects against pathogens found in blood and tissues
  • Participates in neutralization of toxins, precipitation, and complement fixation
  • Attracts microorganisms and stimulates phagocytosis