| Abstract: | The single site binding constants of rabbit IgG and its plasmin-derived fragments F(acb)2, Facb and F(ab)2 for human C1q were measured by the sedimentation velocity method. The intact IgG and F(acb)2 having the paired C gamma 2 domains gave an identical association constant at 20 degrees C (Ka) of 3.02 X 10(4) M-1 in the presence of a physiological concn of salt and on the basis of six sites per C1q. The C1q-binding affinity was found to be decreased to 1.04 X 10(4) M-1 in the reduced, monomerized fragment Facb. Under the same conditions F(ab)2, which is completely unable to activate the classical complement cascade, gave an apparent C1q-affinity of 0.36 X 10(4) M-1. The results, together with previous observations, led us to the conclusion that the C1q-binding site of rabbit IgG is constituted associatively by the pair of C gamma 2 domains, each of which providing a limited, complementary part of the binding free energy between IgG and C1q. |
