Properties of the solubilized placental receptor for IgG.

The Fc receptor activity in placental extracts prepared using EDTA and 2-mercaptoethanol was assayed using an indirect hemagglutination technique with sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit IgG. The agglutinating activity of the extract was not affected by storage at -70 degrees C, by rapid freezing and thawing, by treatment with periodic acid, formaldehyde, neuraminidase, trypsin, pronase, or phospholipase C. Papain abolished the activity, indicating that the receptor is a protein. Reduction and alkylation had no effect on the agglutinating activity, indicating that -S-S-bonds are not important for binding. In the presence of 0.6 M NaCl the agglutinating activity was abolished, indicating that electrostatic interactions are of significance. The solubilized Fc receptor shows so many similarities to the previously studied in situ Fc receptor that they are probably identical.