ADCs are molecules made of a monoclonal antibody linked to a cancer drug - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 7 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 7
ADCs are molecules made of a monoclonal antibody linked to a cancer drug.
Figure 8 shows how an ADC enters and kills a tumour cell.
The process of entering the cel... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:ADCs are molecules made of a monoclonal antibody linked to a cancer drug - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 7 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Cell ingests/engulfs the antibody/ADC
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Answer
The ADC interacts with the tumour cell's surface by binding to specific antigens. This is akin to phagocytosis, where a cell engulfs foreign particles.
Step 2
Lysosomes fuse with vesicle/phagosome (containing ADC)
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Answer
Once the ADC is inside the cell, it is enclosed within a vesicle known as a phagosome, which will then fuse with lysosomes.
Step 3
Lysosomes breakdown/digest the antibody/ADC to release the drug
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Answer
The lysosomes release hydrolytic enzymes that break down the ADC, resulting in the release of the therapeutic drug, which ultimately leads to cell death.
