RANDOM association of VL and VH repertoires contributes considerably t
o antibody diversity1. The diversity and the affinity are then increas
ed by hypermutation in B cells located in germinal centres2. Except in
the case of 'heavy chain' disease3, naturally occurring heavy-chain a
ntibodies have not been described, although antigen binding has been d
emonstrated for separated heavy chains4 or cloned VH domains5. Here we
investigate the presence of considerable amounts of IgG-like material
of M(r) 100K in the serum of the camel (Camelus dromedarius)6. These
molecules are composed of heavy-chain dimers and are devoid of light c
hains, but nevertheless have an extensive antigen-binding repertoire,
a finding that calls into question the role of light chains in the cam
el. Camel heavy-chain IgGs lack CH1, which in one IgG class might be s
tructurally replaced by an extended hinge. Heavy-chain IgGs are a feat
ure of all camelids. These findings open new perspectives in the engin
eering of antibodies.