light chain

American  

noun

1. Immunology. either of an identical pair of polypeptides in the antibody molecule that lie parallel to the upper parts of the heavy chain pair and are half the molecular weight.

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light chain Scientific  

1. The smaller of the two types of polypeptide chains in an antibody molecule. A light chain consists of an antigen-binding portion with a variable amino acid sequence, and a constant region with an amino acid sequence that is relatively unchanging. The light chains are attached to the heavy chains so that the variable regions of both lie alongside each other.

2. Compare heavy chain

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Etymology

Origin of light chain

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

This protein is called neurofilament light chain, NfL.

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2024

Hirota concludes: "These findings not only clarify the domain-swapped structure of the antibody light chain but also contribute to controlling antibody quality and advancing the development of future molecular recognition agents and drugs."

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2023

What enzyme is responsible for the random excision of variable gene segments making up an antibody light chain in DNA?

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The heavy chain and the light chain are the two polypeptides that form the antibody.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

I yank on the light chain in my closet.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio