Single-chain

Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is a type of antibody that is composed of the variable regions of the heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains of immunoglobulins, connected with a short linker peptide of about 10-25 amino acids. The linker is usually rich in Glycine for flexibility, as well as Serine or Threonine for solubility, and can either connect the VH to the VL (in the VH-VL orientation) or the VL to the VH (in the VL-VH orientation).

Structure

The scFv format of antibodies is a simple and flexible building block, which maintains the complete antigen-binding site of the parent monoclonal antibody. Because of their small size (about 27 kDa), they can penetrate tissues more efficiently than full-sized antibodies (about 150 kDa). However, their small size also leads to rapid renal clearance, which can be a disadvantage in certain applications.

Applications

ScFvs have been used in research and diagnostic applications, as well as in cancer immunotherapy. They can be used to construct immunotoxins, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), and bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs).

See also

• Antibody
• Monoclonal antibody
• Cancer immunotherapy
• Immunotoxin
• Chimeric antigen receptor
• Bispecific T-cell engager

Single-chain Resources
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