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. 1993 Jun 3;363(6428):446-8.
doi: 10.1038/363446a0.

Naturally occurring antibodies devoid of light chains

C Hamers-Casterman  1 , T Atarhouch, S Muyldermans, G Robinson, C Hamers, E B Songa, N Bendahman, R Hamers
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Naturally occurring antibodies devoid of light chains

C Hamers-Casterman et al. Nature. .

Abstract

Random association of VL and VH repertoires contributes considerably to antibody diversity. The diversity and the affinity are then increased by hypermutation in B cells located in germinal centres. Except in the case of 'heavy chain' disease, naturally occurring heavy-chain antibodies have not been described, although antigen binding has been demonstrated for separated heavy chains or cloned VH domains. Here we investigate the presence of considerable amounts of IgG-like material of M(r) 100K in the serum of the camel (Camelus dromedarius). These molecules are composed of heavy-chain dimers and are devoid of light chains, but nevertheless have an extensive antigen-binding repertoire, a finding that calls into question the role of light chains in the camel. Camel heavy-chain IgGs lack CH1, which in one IgG class might be structurally replaced by an extended hinge. Heavy-chain IgGs are a feature of all camelids. These findings open new perspectives in the engineering of antibodies.

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