Diabody
A diabody is a molecule that is structurally and functionally similar to an antibody . In contrast to a normal antibody, a diabody is a bivalent or bispecific antibody , ie it can bind (up to) two different antigens . A diabody is made up of two individual protein chains that are parts of antibodies ( ScFv fragments ). Depending on the specificities of these two parts, a distinction can be made between monospecific diabodies, ie diabodies directed against the same antigen on both sides, or bispecific diabodies directed against two different antigens. The bispecific diabodies are thus heterodimers . The connection of the two specificities forms a five amino acid long connecting piece (linker).