Structural characterization of a human Fc fragment engineered for lack of effector functions

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2008 Jun;64(Pt 6):700-4. doi: 10.1107/S0907444908007877. Epub 2008 May 14.

Abstract

The first three-dimensional structure of a human Fc fragment genetically engineered for the elimination of its ability to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity is reported. When introduced into the lower hinge and CH2 domain of human IgG1 molecules, the triple mutation L234F/L235E/P331S ('TM') causes a profound decrease in their binding to human CD64, CD32A, CD16 and C1q. Enzymatically produced Fc/TM fragment was crystallized and its structure was solved at a resolution of 2.3 A using molecular replacement. This study revealed that the three-dimensional structure of Fc/TM is very similar to those of other human Fc fragments in the experimentally visible region spanning residues 236-445. Thus, the dramatic broad-ranging effects of TM on IgG binding to several effector molecules cannot be explained in terms of major structural rearrangements in this portion of the Fc.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Binding Sites, Antibody / genetics
  • Complement C1q / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / chemistry*
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Engineering
  • Receptors, IgG / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Complement C1q