light chain

noun

: either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains comprising antibodies compare heavy chain

Examples of light chain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Participants who experienced rising segregation over time showed elevated levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL), which reflect brain stress and nerve cell injury. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

One came from blood measurements of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), a protein released when nerve cells are damaged and widely used as a marker of disease activity. — New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026

And, curiously, a protein called neurofilament light chain, often linked to brain injury, was elevated in newborns compared with teens and adults—but not as high as what was found in elderly people. — Robert Martone, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025

In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells make abnormal proteins called monoclonal light chains. — Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for light chain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Medical Definition

light chain

noun

: either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains that are subunits of antibodies

called also L chain

compare heavy chain