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2025-02-18T04:13:03Z

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			<gallery>
			File:ScFv-rotation.gif\|Animation of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) rotation
			File:Single_chain_variable_fragment.svg\|Diagram of a single-chain variable fragment
			File:Polyvalent_single-chain_variable_fragments.svg\|Illustration of polyvalent single-chain variable fragments
			</gallery>

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2024-02-28T19:49:12Z

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'''Single-chain variable fragment''' ('''scFv''') is a type of [[antibody]] that is engineered for use in [[biotechnology]]. scFvs are derived from the variable regions of [[immunoglobulin]] molecules, and they are unique in that they are composed of a single polypeptide chain.

== Structure ==

The structure of a scFv consists of the variable regions of the heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains of an antibody, linked together by a short [[peptide]] linker. This linker is usually flexible, allowing the VH and VL domains to move relative to each other. The linker is typically about 15 amino acids long, and it is designed to be too short to allow the VH and VL domains to fold together and form a traditional [[antigen]] binding site.

== Production ==

scFvs are produced through [[recombinant DNA]] technology. The genes encoding the VH and VL domains are isolated from a hybridoma or B cell, and then they are linked together using a short DNA sequence that encodes the peptide linker. This construct is then inserted into a [[plasmid]] and expressed in a host organism, typically [[Escherichia coli]] or yeast.

== Applications ==

scFvs have a wide range of applications in biotechnology and medicine. They can be used as [[research tools]], for example in [[flow cytometry]] or [[immunohistochemistry]]. They can also be used in [[therapeutics]], for example in [[cancer immunotherapy]] or as targeting agents in [[drug delivery]] systems. In addition, scFvs can be used in [[diagnostics]], for example in [[ELISA]] tests or [[immunoassays]].

== Advantages and Disadvantages ==

One of the main advantages of scFvs is their small size, which allows them to penetrate tissues more effectively than full-size antibodies. They also have the advantage of being able to be produced in bacteria or yeast, which is cheaper and faster than producing full-size antibodies in mammalian cells.

However, scFvs also have some disadvantages. They have a shorter half-life in the body than full-size antibodies, and they may be less stable. In addition, because they are made up of a single polypeptide chain, they can only bind to one antigen at a time, whereas full-size antibodies can bind to two.

[[Category:Biotechnology]]
[[Category:Immunology]]
[[Category:Antibodies]]
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Single-chain variable fragment - Revision history

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Prab: CSV import