Action of Papain on an IgG molecule produces?: (A) 2 Fc fragments & 1 Fab fragment, (B) 1 Fc fragment & 2 Fab fragments, (C) 2 Fc fragments & 2 Fab fragments, (D) 1 Fc fragment & 1 Fab fragment
Answer is B. 1 Fc fragment & 2 Fab fragments REF: Jawetz, Melnick, & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 24TH edition Chapter 44 If an antibody molecule is treated with a proteolytic enzyme (eg, Papain), peptide bonds in the hinge region are broken. This breakage produces two identical Fab fragments, which carry the antigen-binding sites, and one Fc fragment, which is involved in placental transfer, complement fixation, attachment for various cells, and other biologic activities.