scFv fragment

Rotating 3D animation of a scFv antibody.

The two possible structures of scFv fragments. The antigen-binding regions with the N-termini are on the left, the C-termini on the right. The linker sequences are shown as arrows.

scFv fragments , also called scFv antibodies (from English single chain variable fragment ), are artificially produced antibody fragments which covalently connect the antigen- recognizing variable domains of the light and heavy chains of a classic antibody . Both domains are connected to one another via a short linker, which usually consists of a sequence of the amino acids glycine or serine , with the help of molecular biological methods . With the exception of the cytotoxicity linked to the missing Fc unit and mediated by activation of the complement system , the essential properties of an antibody, in particular its selectivity and its affinity, are retained. scFv antibodies are used experimentally in flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry . In addition, some scFv antibodies, such as pexelizumab and CC49- scFv, as well as a bispecific scFv antibody ( blinatumomab ) are currently being investigated in clinical studies for possible therapeutic applications. Derivatives of scFv are e.g. B. SMIPs .

literature

S. Lennard: Standard protocols for the construction of scFv libraries. In: Methods in molecular biology . Volume 178, 2002, pp. 59-71. doi: 10.1385 / 1-59259-240-6: 059 . PMID 11968510 .

Individual evidence

^ P Holliger, PJ Hudson: Engineered antibody fragments and the rise of single domains . In: Nat. Biotechnol. . 23, No. 9, September 2005, pp. 1126-1136. doi : 10.1038 / nbt1142 . PMID 16151406 .

[pmid16151406-1] P Holliger, PJ Hudson: Engineered antibody fragments and the rise of single domains . In: Nat. Biotechnol. . 23, No. 9, September 2005, pp. 1126-1136. doi : 10.1038 / nbt1142 . PMID 16151406 .