Putative conformation of mouse Fc gamma-receptor.

Three cell surface molecules (m.w. = 115,000, 90,000, and 70,000) binding to the Fc portion of complexed IgG have been isolated from the murine mastocytoma line P815. Various results suggested that the 90,000 and 70,000 dalton components are generated from the 115,00 dalton molecule by spontaneous proteolytic clevages and release of 23,000 dalton fragments. It was demonstrated that these cleavages occur during cell culture and not when freshly harvested mouse spleen cells are used as an Fc gamma R cell source. The survey of the Fc gamma R molecular forms obtained from P815 and spleen cells together with their reduction products led us to conclude that the mouse Fc gamma-receptor for complexed IgG is a single chain molecule (115,000 daltons) folded into five globular subunits (m.w. eta 23,000) linked by loose connecting regions accessible to proteolytic enzymes. Three of these subunits that compose the 70,000-dalton fragment are linked by di-sulfide bonds. Furthermore, a 140,000-dalton Fc gamma-binding molecule, not identified after cell surface labeling, could be detected after internal labeling. This component could be a cytoplasmic precursor of the Fc gamma R molecule. The structural model we present here might in addition shed some light on the discrepancy that appears through the various biochemical studies performed so far on Fc gamma-receptors.