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Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Generation of Discriminative Human Monoclonal Antibodies from Rare Antigen-specific B Cells Circulating in Blood
Published on: February 6, 2018
Cloning of Single-Chain Antibody Variants by Overlap-Extension PCR for Evaluation of Antibody Expression in Transient
Patrick Mayrhofer1, Renate Kunert2
1Department of Biotechnology, Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences-Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
Single-chain fragment variable-fragment crystallizable antibody constructs (scFv-Fc) are homodimeric proteins representing valuable alternatives to heterotetrameric full-length IgG molecules to study protein properties and product-dependent cellular behavior. In contrast to naturally occurring antibodies, these artificial molecules are assembled from functional antibody domains to reduce molecule complexity and enhance antibody expression levels. The scFv-Fc format retains critical antibody functions such as antigen binding affinity and antibody effector functions. Here, we present a protocol to convert the full-length anti-HIV-1 IgG1 antibody 2F5 into a scFv-Fc construct. Variable and constant regions are amplified by conventional PCR reactions and assembled by a single overlap-extension PCR reaction. The amplified product is then cloned into a mammalian expression vector suitable for high-titer transient gene expression. This workflow can be applied to any antibody sequence by adapting the specific primer sequences to the antibody of choice.
Single-chain fragment variable-fragment crystallizable antibody constructs (scFv-Fc) are homodimeric proteins representing valuable alternatives to heterotetrameric full-length IgG molecules to study protein properties and product-dependent cellular behavior. In contrast to naturally occurring antibodies, these artificial molecules are assembled from functional antibody domains to reduce molecule complexity and enhance antibody expression levels. The scFv-Fc format retains critical antibody functions such as antigen binding affinity and antibody effector functions. Here, we present a protocol to convert the full-length anti-HIV-1 IgG1 antibody 2F5 into a scFv-Fc construct. Variable and constant regions are amplified by conventional PCR reactions and assembled by a single overlap-extension PCR reaction. The amplified product is then cloned into a mammalian expression vector suitable for high-titer transient gene expression. This workflow can be applied to any antibody sequence by adapting the specific primer sequences to the antibody of choice.
