Alteration of the conformation of human IgG subclasses by reduction of the hinge S-S bonds

Human IgG changed molecular size upon mild reduction and alkylation as shown by HPLC gel filtration. IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 proteins increased in molecular size while IgG3 proteins were decreased in molecular size by this treatment. Several proteins within each subclass covering different light chain types and Gm types were tested all showing the same effect. A plausible explanation was related to the hinge and to the CH2 region since Fab fragments experienced unchanged molecular size irrespective of IgG subclass while Fc (of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, containing only two aa of the 62 aa long hinge of IgG3 and IgG4) increased in size and Fch (which contains most of the 62 aa long hinge region of IgG3) decreased in size upon reduction and alkylation. It is postulated that reduction of the hinge S-S bonds permit the IgG and Fc molecules to open up in the CH2 region due to the lack of trans-interaction here, resulting in a larger molecular size. For IgG3 and Fch (from IgG3) molecules there was an opposite and even greater effect on the open polyproline like structure of the gamma 3 hinge which depends on intact S-S bonds (there are 11 bonds here). Reduction of these S-S bonds apparently breaks down this open hinge structure resulting in a net decrease in molecular size of IgG3 and Fch molecules.     

The Effect of Interchain Disulfide Bond Cleavage on the Cold Induced Precipitation of Cryoimmunoglobulins

Selective cleavage of the interchain disulfide bonds present in the two IgG₁-k monoclonal cryoglobulins Ger and Muk results in a partial loss of cryoprecipitability of the parent proteins at 0®C. The progressive loss of cryoprecipitability which occurs as a function of increasing reductant concentration parallels the successive cleavage of interheavy-light and interheavy-heavy chain disulfides. Circular dichroism shows that reduction and alkylation of hinge region disulfides induces small conformational changes in the IgG molecules that could alter cryoprecipitability. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the Fc component derived by restricted proteolysis with trypsin of protein Muk was found to be completely homologous with N-terminal Fc sequences of noncryoglobulin IgG reference proteins, indicating identical hinge regions. Reduction and alkylation of two monoclonal IgM cryoglobulins also reduces cryoprecipitability. After reduction and alkylation of either the monoclonal IgM rheumatoid factor or the polyclonal IgG component of two mixed cryoglobulins recombination results in decreased cryoprecipitation of the intact cryoglobulin complex. In all cases inhibition of cryoprecipitation is greater when iodoacetic acid rather than iodoacetamide is employed as the S-alkylating group. These results do not support a direct role for the hinge region in the precipitation of cryoimmunoglobulins.     

Localization of the site of the murine IgG1 molecule that is involved in binding to the murine intestinal Fc receptor

Site-directed mutagenesis of a recombinant Fc hinge fragment has recently been used to localize the site of the murine IgG1 molecule that is involved in the control of catabolism (the “catabolic site”). In the current study, the effects of these CH2 and CH3 domain mutations (Ile 253 to Ala 253, His 310 to Ala 310, Gln 311 to Asn 311, His 433 to Ala 433 and Asn 434 to G1n 434) on intestinal transfer of Fc hinge fragments in neonatal mice have been analyzed. Studies using direct transfer and competition assays demonstrate that the mutations affect the transmission from intestinal lumen into serum in a way that correlates closely with the effects of the mutations on pharmacokinetics. Binding studies of several of the Fc hinge fragments to isolated neonatal brush borders have been used to confirm the in vivo transmission data. These analyses have resulted in the localization of the binding site for the intestinal transfer receptor, FcRn, to specific residues of the murine Fc hinge fragment. These residues are located at the CH2-CH3 domain interface and overlap with both the catabolic site and staphylococcal protein A (SpA) binding site. The pH dependence of IgG1 or Fc fragment binding to FcRn is consistent with the localization of the FcRn interaction site to a region of the Fc that encompasses two histidine residues (His 310 and His 433). To assess whether one or two FcRn binding sites per Fc hinge are required for intestinal transfer, a hybrid Fc hinge fragment comprising a heterodimer of one Fc hinge with the wild-type IgG1 sequence and a mutant Fc hinge with a defective catabolic site (mutated at His 310, G1n 311, His 433 and Asn 434) has been analyzed in direct and competition transmission assays. The studies demonstrate that the Fc hybrid is transferred with significantly reduced efficiency compared to the wild type Fc hinge homodimer and indicate that the binding to FcRn, and possibly subsequent transfer, is enhanced by the presence of two FcRn binding sites per Fc hinge fragment.     

Transformation of Trypomastigote Forms of Trypanosoma cruzi into Activators of Alternative Complement Pathway by Immune IgG Fragments

In this report we examined the capacity of immune IgG fragments to prepare trypomastigote bloodstream forms (TBF) of Trypanosoma cruzi for lysis. F(ab')₂, fragments were capable of presensitizingTBF For complement (C) lysis, thus excluding the participation of Fc domains in the C activation process. An intact hinge region of the IgG molecule was not involved either, since the corresponding Fab' were almost as active as the original molecules in preparing TBF for lysis. Fab also retained such activity even after further reduction and alkylation. These findings indicate that neither the portions of heavy chains that make up the hinge region nor the intrachain disulphide bonds are involved in the process. The IgG fragments promoted lysis through the activation of the alternative C pathway (ACP). These results suggest that the immune IgG transforms TBF into ACP activators by blocking the capacity of some parasite cell surface components that are known inhibitors of C activation.     

Inhibition of mast cell sensitization in vitro by a human immunoglobulin epsilon-chain fragment synthesized in Escherichia coli

An immunoglobulin epsilon-chain fragment was synthesized in E. coli by cloning and expression of the gene coding for the second, third and fourth constant domains of the human IgE heavy chain. The bacterial CH2-4 polypeptide product was assembled by oxidation into a covalently linked dimeric epsilon-chain molecule presumably analogous to the Fc region of native IgE. This bacterial Fc epsilon preparation, within the concentration range 0.01-10 micrograms/ml, inhibited sensitization of human lung mast cells, determined as histamine released upon challenge with specific antigen. Monomer CH2-4 epsilon-chain polypeptide, prepared by reduction and alkylation of the active bacterial Fc epsilon fragment, was inactive as an inhibitor of sensitization. The molar potency of the active bacterial Fc epsilon product was approximately one fourth of that of native IgE. Since the bacterial Fc epsilon is nonglycosylated, carbohydrate does not make an essential contribution to the Fc receptor binding activity of IgE. These results show that a functionally active immunoglobulin molecule can be synthesized by gene cloning and expression in E. coli.     

Enzymatic and antigenic characterization of immunoglobulin A1 proteases from Bacteroides and Capnocytophaga spp

Bacteroides and Capnocytophaga species have been implicated as periodontal pathogens. Some of these species possess immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) proteases that are capable of cleaving the human IgA1 molecule in the hinge region, leaving intact Fc alpha and Fab alpha fragments. The purpose of this study was to characterize this activity. In addition to IgA1 protease activity in already known species, IgA1 protease activity was a feature of Bacteroides buccalis, Bacteroides oralis, Bacteroides veroralis, Bacteroides capillus, and Bacteroides pentosaceus. Results of immunoelectrophoretic and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analyses suggested that all species cleave the alpha-chain at the same peptide bond, i.e., the prolyl-seryl bond between residues 223 and 224 in the hinge region. The Bacteroides proteases could be classified as thiol proteases, which were at the same time dependent on metal ions, while the Capnocytophaga proteases were metallo enzymes. None of the proteases were inhibited by the physiologic proteases inhibitors alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. Investigations with enzyme-neutralizing antibodies raised in rabbits against protease preparations from the respective type strains revealed that, despite otherwise identical characteristics, the IgA1 protease of each Bacteroides species was antigenically distinct. Bacteroides buccae and the two later synonymous species B. capillus and B. pentosaceus produced identical proteases. In contrast, IgA1 proteases from Capnocytophaga ochracea and Capnocytophaga sputigena strains were apparently identical, while Capnocytophaga gingivalis had a protease that differed from those of the other Capnocytophaga species.     

Subfragmentation of the Fc fragment of human IgG1 myeloma protein by thermolysin.

Human IgG1 Fc fragment was digested at neutral pH by thermolysin, producing two large subfragments: one comprising the major part of the Fc fragment but devoid of the hinge region; the other comprising the Cgamma3 domain. The former fragment retained the capacity to react with "general" rheumatoid factors whereas the latter did not, indicating that the binding site for "general" rheumatoid factors on the Fc fragment of human IgG1 does not involve the hinge region of the molecule.     

Cleavage of protein A-binding IgA1 with IgA1 protease from Streptococcus sanguis

Protein A-binding fractions of two IgA1 myeloma proteins failed to produce Fc fragments on digestion with IgA1 protease from Streptococcus sanguis. A polymeric protein A-binding IgA1 fraction yielded a protein A-non-binding monomer, which was further cleaved into Fab fragments but it did not yield Fc fragments. The protein A-binding fraction of a monomeric IgA1 yielded an IgA molecule lacking one Fab fragment. Subsequently, the remaining part of its cleaved alpha chain was degraded. Further digestion yielded Fab but not Fc fragments. Similarly, F(abc)2 and Fabc fragments, which lack the CH3 domain (8), yielded Fab fragments but not CH2 domains. Thus, the enzyme in addition to cleaving IgA in the hinge region, under certain conditions, also degrades its Fc fragments.     

Cytophilic activity of enzymatically derived fragments of guinea pig IgG2

The hydrolysis products from short term exposure of guinea pig IgG₂ to papain and pepsin have been characterized. Papain hydrolysis liberates 4 types of Fc fragment, only one of which retains both an interchain disulfide bond and an intact C_H2 domain, cFc, mol. wt. 56 000. The other three fragments noncovalently linked Fc (nFc) (mol. wt. 56 000), incomplete Fc (iFc) (mol. wt. 39 000) and Fc′ (23 000) represent further degradation products of covalently linked complete Fc (cFc). The cytophilic activities of these fragments as well as F(ab′)₂ and pFc′ from pepsin hydrolysis, were studied to determine the domain(s) responsible for binding to homologous peritoneal macrophages. Only the native immunoglobulin and the intact cFc manifested cytophilic activity; in particular pepsin-derived pFc′ and Fc′ were inactive. Following mild reduction and alkylation, performed to affect only the interchain disulfide bonds, the cytophilic activity of cFc was markedly reduced. The low cytophilic activity in the pFc′ fragment suggests that the C_H2 domains play a major part in binding to the macrophage Fc receptor through a site(s) stabilized by the interchain disulfide bonds.     

Activation of complement by human serum IgA, secretory IgA and IgA1 fragments

Activation of the complement (C) system by human IgA was studied. Both subclasses of IgA, IgA1 and IgA2, and secretory IgA were shown to activate C, as determined by deposition of C3 on glutaraldehyde-activated microwells coated with IgA. The activation of the C system occurred in the presence of MgEGTA and not in D-deficient serum. In addition to C3, deposition of properdin (P) but not of C4 was detected. These results indicate that C activation, as determined by measuring deposition of C3 and P, occurred by the alternative pathway (AP). The data further show that the major part of the hinge region, which is deleted in IgA2 as compared with IgA1 and which forms the major structural difference between the two subclasses, is not involved in C activation. Reduction and alkylation destroyed the ability of IgA to activate C, as has also been demonstrated for IgG. In order to define the C activating region of the IgA molecule, several fragments of IgA1 were tested. The four-chain molecules F(ab')2 and F(abc)2 were shown to activate the AP. No activation was observed with the two-chain fragments Fab and Fc. The Fc fragment of IgA also did not activate the CP, as does the Fc fragment of IgG. This indicates that activation of the AP of C by IgA is dependent on the presence of the F(ab')2 fragment. In conclusion: human IgA does activate C by the AP. This activation requires an intact F(ab')2 fragment.     

The extended hinge region of IgG3 is not required for high phagocytic capacity mediated by Fcγ receptors,but the heavy chains must be disulfide bonded

Feγ receptor (FcγR) phagocytosis and respiratory burst were induced by chimeric mouse-human anti-(4-hydroxy-5-iodo-3-nitrophenyl) acetyl IgG3 antibodies with mutations in hinge and/or in C_H1 region. IgG3 mutants with different hinge length ranging from 47 to 0 amino acids, an IgG3 molecule with an artificial hinge of just one cysteine residue (HM-1), and two hybrid IgG3 molecules with IgG4 hinge or IgG4 C_H1-hinge were tested. Using the monocytic cell line U937 as effector cells, the mutated IgG3 molecules were very similar, revealing high activity, while the IgG3/IgG4 hybrids revealed a slightly reduced activity. However, the hingeless (0-h) mutant was negative, except after interferon-γ stimulation when it became slightly positive. Interestingly, HM-1 was as active as the IgG3 mutants. With polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) as effector cells we obtained some day-to-day variations, but all the IgG3 mutants were highly active, with the two shortest hinge mutants somewhat less active The IgG3/IgG4 hybrid molecules revealed an intermediate activity, while IgG4 wild-type and the 0-h mutant were negative. However, the HM-1 molecule revealed an activity similar to that of the IgG3 mutants. The phagocytic activity of U937 was inhibited by monomeric IgG, indicating the importance of FcγR III. In contrast, with PMN both blockage of FcγRII and cleavage of FcγRIII were required to significantly reduce the phagocytosis and respiratory burst, thus showing that both receptors contribute to the effect. These results demonstrate that the extended IgG3 hinge region is not necessary for a high phagocytic activity and that the major structural importance of the hinge is to connect the two heavy chains in this region.     

Biochemical properties of biologically active Fcγ receptors of human B lymphocytes

Biochemical and biological properties of Fcγ receptors isolated by the previously described five-step procedure from several different CLL patients cell lysates were investigated to gain insight into their structure-function relationship. The FcγR proteins isolated in a relatively homogeneous and biologically active form are a single polypeptide chain of mol. wt near 30,000 that starts with an amino terminal residue of glycine. Extensive reduction and alkylation did not change their mobility in SDS-PAGE, behavior during gel filtration, isoelectric points in 6 M urea, and amino acid compositions. Their amino acid compositions are essentially identical to each other, and are characterized by two readily alkylatable cysteinyl residues. FcγR proteins apparently lack glucosamine and galactosamine, which are the usual components of glycoproteins. The tryptic peptide maps of FcγR materials isolated from three different CLL patients cell lysates were found to be nearly identical to each other. The number of typtic peptides identified by ninhydrin staining were in good agreement with those expected from the total number of lysyl and arginyl residues estimated by amino acid analysis using the assumed mol. wt of 30,000 for FcγR materials. FcγR materials appeared to be associated with a mole of phospholipids as well as a mole of free fatty acid per mole of protein. The phospholipids associated with FcγR proteins were phosphatidyl-choline, -serine and -ethanolamine, which are the usual components of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. Their association with FcγR proteins seems to be tight, since 70% of phosphorus associated with FcγR protein remained bound after delipidation and only phospholipase C treatment released about 75% of phosphorous from FcγR. The fatty acids extracted from two different FcγR materials were found by gas chromatography to be similar to each other and were composed of the usual membrane fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0 and C18:l). One preparation showed the association of a small but significant amount of arachiodonic acid (C20:4). Delipidation by chloroform-methanol as well as phospholipase C treatment did not affect the IgG-bincling capacity of FcyR materials.     

C1q binding to chimeric monoclonal IgG3 antibodies consisting of mouse variable regions and human constant regions with shortened hinge containing 15 to 47 amino acids

We have constructed four different deletion mutants of a chimeric mouse-human IgG3 anti-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl/(5-iodo-4 hydroxy-3 nitrophenyl) acetyl (NP/NIP) antibody lacking one or more of the four exons coding for the hinge region. The mutant variants all retained intact hinge region epitopes since they all reacted with IgG3 hinge-specific antibodies. Surprisingly, all the deletion mutants bound C1q equally well or even better than the wild type. Thus the high C1q binding activity of IgG3 compared to IgG1 is apparently not due to the total length of the IgG3 hinge, which is 62 amino acids, nor is it due to the length of the upper hinge which is the stretch from the end of CH1 to the first inter-heavy chain disulfide bond.     

Enzymatic Fragmentation of an Unusual Human IgG2 (Kva) Myeloma Protein

The Kva IgG2(k) myeloma protein showed a complete resistance to papain in the presence of cysteine at neutral pH, and a higher resistance to trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin digestion than other IgG2 proteins. On the other hand, the Kva molecule was cleaved by pepsin at low pH to give the expected F(ab')2 fragment. When the cleavage conditions were altered, it was possible to obtain Fab, Fc, and Fc' fragments from this molecule as well. The Fab/c fragment and FacbFc' complex were also obtained, which have not previously been reported from human IgG2 molecules. Incubation at elevated temperatures (45-50 degrees C) and/or lower pH resulted mainly in enzymatic attack on the C terminal side of the hinge. It was necessary to destroy the hinge by reduction or to expose the Kva molecule at 70 degrees C or at lower pH (2.5) prior to digestion to facilitate enzyme digestion on the NH2 terminal side of the hinge. These results indicate that the hinge region of the Kva molecule has an unusually compact structure, which makes it extremely resistant to proteolysis.     

Effects of limited reduction on disulfide bonds in human IgA1 and IgA1 fragments.

Human IgA occurs in body fluids as monomers, dimers and secretory IgA (sIgA). Besides the cysteine residues in intra-domain, inter-chain and inter-subunit disulfide bonds IgA molecules contain several cysteine residues with unknown function and reactivity. Limited reductions on serum IgA1 and secretory IgA1 with glutathione revealed that four cysteine residues per monomer or subunit were part of labile bonds. Six cysteine residues were reduced in F(ab')2 fragments and about three in Fc fragments, but none in Fab fragments, indicating that the labile bonds occur in the Fc fragment. By SDS-PAGE analyses of reduced proteins labile inter-alpha chain bond(s) were detected in F(ab')2 and F(abc)2 fragments but not in Fc fragments and intact IgA1, thus showing the importance of the CH3 domains for the structural stability of the hinge region. Nine cysteine residues per IgA1 were reduced with 0.01 M DTT and a large proportion of the IgA1 myeloma proteins formed half-molecules consisting of an alpha- and a light chain, but sIgA1 remained intact. This indicates a relative stability of heavy to light chain and inter-subunit bonds. Reductions in the presence of 2% SDS disrupted several intra-chain bonds. Binding studies with (CH2)2-specific monoclonal antibodies, which detect an epitope expressed only on IgA molecules with disulfide linked alpha chains, were in accordance with the SDS-PAGE results. A new model for the location of labile and more stable disulfide bonds is discussed.     

Kinetics of inter-heavy chain disulfide bond formation of liganded and unliganded human immunoglobulin G by radioimmunoassay.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the hinge region of human IgG1 immunoglobulins were prepared by immunization with a proteolytic fragment of hinge segment coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. A mAb, 4G3, was obtained capable of binding to intact IgG but not to partially reduced IgG. Using this mAb, inter-heavy (H) chain disulfide bond formation from partially reduced anti-tetanus antibodies (Abs) in the presence or absence of antigens (Ags) was studied by solid phase radioimmunoassay. When the Abs were partially reduced in solution and then coated to plastic plates, only 10% regeneration of inter-H chain disulfide bonds occurred after reoxidation, although 100% formation occurred in solution [Kishida et al., J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 79, 91-105 (1976)]. This difference in the extent of disulfide bond formation can be explained by the fact that there are two convertible isomers in solution, Conformer I and II, one of which (Conformer I) can form disulfide bonds but is present as a minor component. Since the motion of IgG molecules on plates is restricted by hydrophobic interactions, the two conformers are not convertible as in solution. Therefore only Conformer I which existed before coating formed inter-H chain disulfide bonds. Similar kinetic measurements were performed using plates coated with tetanus toxoid. Abs, partially reduced in solution and then allowed to react with Ags on the plate were able to completely regenerate their inter-H chain disulfide bonds, although the rate of reaction was slow. These results can also be explained by the fact that the two isomers are convertible since Ag-Ab complexes are dissociable. Ag-binding therefore did not significantly perturb conformation of the hinge segments. In addition, no difference between liganded and unliganded Abs was observed in the binding of anti-hinge mAbs. These results imply little or no contribution of the hinge region to transmission of the signal produced by Ag-binding to Fc.     

Monoclonal antibodies against human IgE. Identification of an epitope sharing properties with the high-affinity receptor binding site.

Three monoclonal antibodies to human IgE are described. One of them recognizes an epitope located within a region of 76 amino acids that has been shown to contain the Fc epsilon RI binding site. That epitope is shown to be susceptible to heating and to alkylation of cysteines involved in inter heavy chain bonds, but not to their reduction alone. In addition, this monoclonal antibody, although having a high affinity for free IgE, is unable to bind Fc epsilon RI-linked IgE. Based on these results, we discuss the possibility that the antibody recognizes the Fc epsilon RI binding site of the IgE molecule.     

Effect of hapten binding on antibody-water interaction. A concept of fluctuating cavities

Solutions of pig anti-Dnp antibodies, Fab and Fc fragments, human IgG, human serum albumin and cytochrome c were examined by infrared spectroscopy with the aim to investigate the influence of these proteins on the surrounding water. Anti-Dnp antibodies, human IgG and oxidized cytochrome c induced a shift of the maximum of the deformation—liberation band of water towards lower wave numbers. Anti-Dnp antibodies complexed with hapten, free and haptenated Fab fragments, reduced cytochrome c and serum albumin induced a shift of the maximum to higher wave numbers, while Fc fragment did not induce any significant shift. Perturbating agents such as 0.5 M sodium chloride and 20% saccharose caused a shift of the maximum of water in protein solutions to higher wave numbers.The observed phenomena are interpreted in terms of the ability of cavities and clefts in proteins such as immunoglobulins to fluctuate between two states, more or less accessible to water. This ability is thought to result in a generation of anisotropic fluctuations in the surrounding water medium, associated with lowering of the number and/or strength of hydrogen bonds between water molecules. Proteins lacking cavities or clefts affect the water medium in an opposite way; the hydrogen bond network of water becomes more firm and consolidated. Binding of hapten to the intact antibody apparently alters the domain oscillations and the geometry of the antibody molecule. Consequently in contrast to free antibody, the antibody—hapten complex consolidates the hydrogen bond network of surrounding water.     

Localization of the site of the IgG molecule that regulates maternofetal transmission in mice

Site-directed mutagenesis of a recombinant Fc hinge fragment has recently been used to localize the site of the mouse IgG1 (mIgG1) molecule that is involved in the intestinal transfer of recombinant Fc hinge fragments in neonatal mice. This site encompasses Ile-253, His-310, Gln-311, His-433 and Asn-434, localized at the CH2-CH3 domain interface and overlapping with the staphylococcal protein A-binding and catabolic sites. In the present study, the effect of these mutations on the maternofetal transfer of Fc hinge fragments has been studied. Experiments to analyze transfer of radiolabeled Fc hinge fragments from the circulation of 15–18 day pregnant mice to fetuses in utero demonstrate that the mutations affect the maternofetal transmission in a way that correlates closely with the effects of the mutations on intestinal transfer and catabolism. The studies indicate that the neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, is involved in transcytosis across both yolk sac and neonatal intestine in addition to the regulation of IgG catabolism.     

An examination of the structural and biological properties of three intravenous immunoglobulin preparations

Three commercial preparations of immunoglobulin G prepared for administration by the i.v. route were tested for their physical integrity and in vitro biological activity. Size exclusion chromatography by HPLC in native and denaturing buffers together with SDS-PAGE analysis were used to determine whether covalent-bond cleavage had occurred as a result of procedures used in their preparation. C1 complement binding assays and measurements of competitive binding to an Fc receptor-bearing promonocyte cell line U937 were used to assess whether such changes had altered the capacity of these preparations to engage biological effector functions. A purified IgG1 myeloma protein was used as a reference standard. WinRho, an unmodified IgG, consisted almost wholly of monomeric IgG by HPLC size exclusion and showed no evidence of proteolytic fragments in denaturing buffers or on SDS-PAGE. Sandoglobulin, a product treated at pH 4 with pepsin, contained about 10% dimeric protein and, as revealed under denaturing conditions, about 2% fragments. Relative affinity of binding to U937 cells was similar to WinRho. C1 binding by Sandoglobulin showed normal activity with 50% inhibition at 2.8 nM. Gamimune, modified by partial reduction and alkylation, contained about 15% dimers. Between 20 and 30% of the preparation retained covalent interchain disulfides. Binding to U937 cells was two-fold weaker than the other preparations and binding to C1 was also diminished and modified. This accords well with previous reports of the deleterious effect of reduction and alkylation on Fc function.