Human IgG subclass proteins exhibit more than 95% primary amino acid s
equence homology in their Fc regions, but each has a unique profile fo
r recognition by the 3 human Fc gamma receptors. The Fc gamma Rs are t
hemselves highly homologous members of the immunoglobulin supergene fa
mily. Consistent with these data we have proposed that Fc gamma RI, Fc
gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII recognise overlapping non-identical inter
action sites in the lower hinge region of the C(H)2 domain of the IgG
molecule. Evidence in support was provided by protein engineering effe
cting single amino acid replacements in the proposed site. Alternative
ly, we have demonstrated that the primary amino acid sequence alone is
not sufficient for IgG molecules to fold with the generation of Fc ga
mma R interaction sites and that glycosylation of Asn 297 of the C(H)2
domain is essential. We have further defined a 'core' oligosaccharide
structure that provides for the generation of Fc gamma R interaction
sites which suggests that the addition of outer-arm sugar residues doe
s not affect this primary activity; although in vivo it could influenc
e other essential biological activities. These findings have opened up
a new approach to engineering antibody function - by protein engineer
ing of amino acid residues that form contacts with the oligosaccharide
moiety. In the present report we demonstrate that replacement of cont
act residues for galactose on the alpha((1-6)) arm does not affect Fc
gamma RI and Fc gamma RII recognition while replacement of Asp 265, a
contact for a 'core' N-acetylglucosamine residue, results in a loss of
Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII recognition.