title: The crystal structure of IgE Fc reveals an asymmetrically bent conformation.
abstract: The distinguishing structural feature of immunoglobulin E (IgE), the antibody responsible for allergic hypersensitivity, is the C epsilon 2 domain pair that replaces the hinge region of IgG. The crystal structure of the IgE Fc (constant fragment) at a 2.6-A resolution has revealed these domains. They display a distinctive, disulfide-linked Ig domain interface and are folded back asymmetrically onto the C epsilon 3 and C epsilon 4 domains, which causes an acute bend in the IgE molecule. The structure implies that a substantial conformational change involving C epsilon 2 must accompany binding to the mast cell receptor Fc epsilon RI. This may be the basis of the exceptionally slow dissociation rate of the IgE-Fc epsilon RI complex and, thus, of the ability of IgE to cause persistent allergic sensitization of mast cells.
authors.affiliation: The Randall Centre, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London SE1 1UL, UK.
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Beavil
authors.forename: Stella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fabiane
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Beavil
authors.forename: Maninder K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sohi
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keown
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Alistair J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Ray J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Hannah J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / Q000737:chemistry*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E