: either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains comprising antibodies compare heavy chain
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebTwo of the key markers — kappa/lambda light chain and of monoclonal protein in the bone marrow — are down from wildly high to within sight of normal. Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2021 Neurofilament light chain, for example, is a structural protein that maintains neurons' axons, which transmit signals to other neurons.ABC News, 7 Nov. 2021 The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative recently reported that measurements of plasma neurofilament-light chain (NfL) can predict the trajectory of decline. Sam Gandy, STAT, 17 June 2021 Earlier this year, a separate group of researchers at WUSTL published work showing that the levels of a protein called neurofilament light chain in the blood could predict brain damage. Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz, 1 Aug. 2019 The mini-antibodies retain roughly the same shape but are missing the light chains. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 10 May 2018 Earlier this year, a separate group of researchers at WUSTL published work showing that the levels of a protein called neurofilament light chain in the blood could predict brain damage. Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz, 1 Aug. 2019 Like the camel versions, the shark antibody was smaller than the regular variety and lacked light chains. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 10 May 2018 The mini-antibodies retain roughly the same shape but are missing the light chains. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 10 May 2018 See More
Word History
First Known Use
1962, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
light chain
noun
: either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains that are subunits of antibodies