Identification of a unique receptor on a group A streptococcus for the Fc region of human IgG3.

Receptors that bind to the Fc region of all four human IgG subclasses have been described on a number of strains of group A streptococci. In this study, we have demonstrated that these immunoglobulin binding properties are mediated by two distinct Fc receptors. The first receptor, with a Mr of approximately 56,000, binds to human IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4, but not to IgG3. A second receptor, with a Mr of approximately 38,000, binds exclusively to human immunoglobulins of the IgG3 subclass.