The application of single-chain Fv fragments (scFv) in medicine and biotech
nology places great demands on their stability. Only recently has attention
been given to the production of highly stable scFvs, and in a number of ex
amples it was found that such fragments indeed perform better during practi
cal applications. The structural parameters influencing scFv stability are
now beginning to be elucidated. This review summarizes progress in rational
and evolutionary engineering methods, the structural implications of these
results, as well as some examples where stability engineering has been suc
cessfully applied. (C) 2001 Academic Press.