Fragmentation of immunoglobulin G.

This unit describes procedures for fragmentation of IgG to the monovalent Fab fragment using papain digestion, and to the bivalent F(ab')(2) fragment by pepsin digestion. Alternative methods of fragmentation to F(ab')(2) include use of papain that is preactivated with cysteine and use of the enzyme ficin. These alternate methods are particularly useful for mouse IgG(1) antibodies.