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Single Domain Antibodies pp 27–36Cite as

Overview and Discovery of IgNARs and Generation of VNARs

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 911))

Abstract

Immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs) from sharks are a distinct class of immune receptors, consisting of homodimers with no associated light chains. Antigen binding is encapsulated within single VNAR immunoglobulin domains of 13–14 kDa in size. This small size and single domain format means that they exhibit considerable stability and are readily produced in heterologous protein expression systems. In this chapter, I describe the history and discovery of IgNARs, the development of VNAR biotechnology, and highlight important factors in VNAR protein production.

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Acknowledgements

I thank all my colleagues and collaborators who have worked with me to develop the VNAR technology. The author acts as a consultant to AdAlta Pty Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Stewart D. Nuttall

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  1. Stewart D. Nuttall
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Correspondence to Stewart D. Nuttall .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Molecular & Cellular Interactions, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, 1050, Belgium

    Dirk Saerens

  2. , Molecular & Cellular Interactions, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, 1050, Belgium

    Serge Muyldermans

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Nuttall, S.D. (2012). Overview and Discovery of IgNARs and Generation of VNARs. In: Saerens, D., Muyldermans, S. (eds) Single Domain Antibodies. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 911. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-968-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-968-6_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-967-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-968-6

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