(fab fragment) Part of an immunoglobulin antibody that binds a specific antigen and consists of both a light chain and part of a heavy chain. By comparison, natural antibodies consist of two heavy and two light chains. An FAB (fragment antibody) offers the advantages of smaller size and lower cross-reactivity compared to the complete antibody. (NCI04)

(immunoglobulin fab fragments) Univalent antigen-binding fragments composed of one entire IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAIN and the amino terminal end of one of the IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS from the hinge region, linked to each other by disulfide bonds. Fab contains the IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGIONS, which are part of the antigen-binding site, and the first IMMUNOGLOBULIN CONSTANT REGIONS. This fragment can be obtained by digestion of immunoglobulins with the proteolytic enzyme PAPAIN.