Background information
IgE Fc Receptor I binds to the Fc region of immunoglobulins epsilon chain with high affinity, and is responsible for initiating the allergic response. Binding of allergen to receptor-bound IgE leads to cell activation and the release of mediators such as histamines, responsible for the manifestations of allergy. IgE Fc Receptor I also induces the secretion of important lymphokines, effectors of the hypersensitivity response. It is a tetramer of a heavily glycosylated alpha chain, a beta chain, and two disulfide linked gamma chains. The gamma chains from Fc epsilon RI are also subunits of other Fc receptors. The gamma subunit is thought to be functionally significant in allowing the IgE Fc receptor to reach the cell surface. The cytoplasmic domains of the beta and gamma subunits each contain a conserved consesus sequence, ITAM, (immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif). Phosphorylation of a pair of conserved tyrosine residues within this motif is required for signal transduction in mast cells and other hemopoietic cell types.
