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Crystal structure of the soluble form of the human Fcγ‐receptor IIb: a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily at 1.7 Å resolution
Author(s) -
Sondermann Peter,
Huber Robert,
Jacob Uwe
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/18.5.1095
Subject(s) - biology , immunoglobulin superfamily , superfamily , antibody , immunoglobulin g , receptor , protein structure , computational biology , genetics , biochemistry
Fcγ‐receptors (FcγRs) represent the link between the humoral and cellular immune responses. Via the binding to FcγR‐positive cells, immunocomplexes trigger several functions such as endocytosis, antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxity (ADCC) and the release of mediators, making them a valuable target for the modulation of the immune system. We solved the crystal structure of the soluble human Fcγ‐receptor IIb (sFcγRIIb) to 1.7 Å resolution. The structure reveals two typical immunoglobulin (Ig)‐like domains enclosing an angle of ∼70°, leading to a heart‐shaped overall structure. In contrast to the observed flexible arrangement of the domains in other members of the Ig superfamily, the two domains are anchored by several hydrogen bonds. The structure reveals that the residues relevant for IgG binding, which were already partially characterized by mutagenesis studies, are located within the BC, C′E and FG loops between the β‐strands of the second domain. Moreover, we discuss a model for the sFcγRIIb:IgG complex. In this model, two FcγR molecules bind one IgG molecule with their second domains, while the first domain points away from the complex and is therefore available for binding other cell surface molecules, by which potential immunosuppressing functions could be mediated.