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The B-cell binding site on human immunoglobulin E

Nature volume 338, pages 649–651 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

IMMUNOGLOBULIN E comprises the main immunoglobulin class associated with allergy. Its multifarious activities are mediated by two types of Fc receptors found on different cell populations, FcσRl on mast cells and basophils1, and FcσR2 on inflammatory cells (monocytes, eosinophils and platelets2) and B lymphocytes3. Recombinant σ-chain fragments synthesized in Escherichia coli have provided the means of mapping the receptor-binding sites on human IgE, and blocking IgE-receptor interactions. We have previously shown that the FceRl binding site is contained within a sequence (Gin 301–Arg 376) spanning the Cσ2 and Cσ3 domains4. Here we show that FcσR2 can recognize a motif in the Cσ3 domain that is formed on dimerization of one or both of the flanking (Cσ2 and Cσ4) domains. Glycosylation of IgE is not required for the activity of either receptor.

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Author notes

  1. Birgft Helm

    Present address: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry Section, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Immunology, The Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    Donata Vercelli & Raif S. Geha

  2. Department of Biophysics, King's College, 26–29 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5RL, UK

    Birgft Helm, Philip Marsh & Hannah Gouid

  3. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

    Eduardo Padlan

Authors
  1. Donata Vercelli
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  2. Birgft Helm
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  3. Philip Marsh
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  4. Eduardo Padlan
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  5. Raif S. Geha
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  6. Hannah Gouid
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Vercelli, D., Helm, B., Marsh, P. et al. The B-cell binding site on human immunoglobulin E. Nature 338, 649–651 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/338649a0

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