Technology

What are antibodies?
Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are a class of proteins found in plasma and other body fluids that bind with other molecules with a high degree of specificity. They are a key component of the immune system.  On the basis of structure and biological activity, antibodies are divided into five classes (IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD, and IgE). They all contain heavy chains and light chains, and are all multi-subunit proteins. A molecular model of a typical IgG antibody is shown here below, with the two light chains in yellow and the two heavy chains in red:

A portion of each heavy chain combines with a light chain to make the Fab. The binding sites of the antibody are located on the ends of each Fab. The protein domains at the ends of each Fab are known as "variable regions" because they are different for each specific antibody. The remainder of the molecule is known as the "constant region", because it has the same amino acid sequence in every antibody of a particular class.

What is a Protected-SIgA™?
Mucosal surfaces line the oral, respiratory, gastro-intestinal and genito-urinary tracts and are in contact with environmental pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and toxic substances. SIgA is the antibody type naturally produced by the body to protect mucosal surfaces against infectious organisms and toxins. The exact 3-D structure of the molecule has not yet been determined, but it is represented in the cartoon below. It consists of two IgA antibodies connected at the "tail" end of the heavy chains via a protein called a J (or joining) chain. An additional protein called the Secretory Component (or, in the case of Planet's SIgA products, the Protection Protein) wraps around the constant regions of the heavy chains. The variable (V) and constant (C) domains are also indicated.

Despite the many advantages of SIgA over other antibody classes, prior to 1995 it had not been possible to produce mono-specific SIgA in large quantity. That was when the production of the first SIgA plantibody was published¹. Plantibody technology revolutionizes the design and production of this novel class of therapeutic and preventative agents. SIgA antibodies have several advantages over conventional antibodies, including superior target binding avidity and increased stability, which provide enhanced therapeutic effectiveness and highly competitive manufacturing economics.

What makes each antibody different?

The binding activity of any antibody for its disease-causing target is conferred by the antibody's "variable regions". Each new Planet plantibody product is based on grafting a new antibody variable region onto the Company's proprietary Protected-SIgA platform:

Except for the variable regions, every new PLANET SIgA plantibody is identical. They are grown in the same plant variety and the purification of each follows a similar process. Because Protected SIgA are similar to proteins found in our own saliva, they are inherently safe and non-toxic. Learn more about our products on the PRODUCTS page.

Links to Antibody Structure and Function pages: