An Inside Job: Applications of Intracellular Single Domain Antibodies. 2020

Eline Soetens, and Marlies Ballegeer, and Xavier Saelens
VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.

Sera of camelid species contain a special kind of antibody that consists only of heavy chains. The variable antigen binding domain of these heavy chain antibodies can be expressed as a separate entity, called a single domain antibody that is characterized by its small size, high solubility and oftentimes exceptional stability. Because of this, most single domain antibodies fold correctly when expressed in the reducing environment of the cytoplasm, and thereby retain their antigen binding specificity. Single domain antibodies can thus be used to target a broad range of intracellular proteins. Such intracellular single domain antibodies are also known as intrabodies, and have proven to be highly useful tools for basic research by allowing visualization, disruption and even targeted degradation of intracellular proteins. Furthermore, intrabodies can be used to uncover prospective new therapeutic targets and have the potential to be applied in therapeutic settings in the future. In this review we provide a brief overview of recent advances in the field of intracellular single domain antibodies, focusing on their use as research tools and potential therapeutic applications. Special attention is given to the available methods that allow delivery of single domain antibodies into cells.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016503 Drug Delivery Systems Systems for the delivery of drugs to target sites of pharmacological actions. Technologies employed include those concerning drug preparation, route of administration, site targeting, metabolism, and toxicity. Drug Targeting,Delivery System, Drug,Delivery Systems, Drug,Drug Delivery System,Drug Targetings,System, Drug Delivery,Systems, Drug Delivery,Targeting, Drug,Targetings, Drug
D042541 Intracellular Space The area within CELLS. Subcellular Space,Intracellular Spaces,Space, Intracellular,Space, Subcellular,Spaces, Intracellular,Spaces, Subcellular,Subcellular Spaces
D061905 Single-Domain Antibodies An immunoglobulin fragment composed of one variable domain from an IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAIN or IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAIN. Single-Domain Antibody,VHH Antibodies,VHH Antibody,Immunoglobulin VH Domain Fragments,Immunoglobulin VL Domain Fragments,Nanobodies,VH Domain Fragments,VHH Fragments,VHH Immunoglobulin Fragments,VL Domain Fragments,VNAR Fragments,VNAR Immunoglobulin Fragments,Antibody, Single-Domain,Antibody, VHH,Single Domain Antibody

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