Antigen-binding fragment, antibody molecules

Figure 1.77 Disulfide reducing agents such as 2-mercaptoethylamine can be used to cleave the disulfide bonds in the hinge region of antibody molecules. Either intact IgG molecules or F(ab )2 fragments may be reduced in this manner to yield monofunctional antigen binding fragments.

The antibody molecule is based on a four-chain structure organized into three functional units (Fig. 7.2) (Padlan, 1993). Two of the units are identical and mediate binding to the antigen these regions are called the Fab (fragment antigen binding) arms of the antibody. The other unit, Fc... 

---