Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc receptors play a critical role in linking IgG antibody-mediated immune responses with cellular effector functions. A high resolution map of the binding site on human IgG1 for human Fc␥RI, Fc␥RIIA, Fc␥RIIB, Fc␥RIIIA, and FcRn receptors has been determined. A common set of IgG1 residues is involved in binding to all Fc␥R; Fc␥RII and Fc␥RIII also utilize residues outside this common set. In addition to residues which, when altered, abrogated binding to one or more of the receptors, several residues were found that improved binding only to specific receptors or simultaneously improved binding to one type of receptor and reduced binding to another type. Select IgG1 variants with improved binding to Fc␥RIIIA exhibited up to 100% enhancement in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity using human effector cells; these variants included changes at residues not found at the binding interface in the IgG/Fc␥RIIIA co-crystal structure (Sondermann, P., Huber, R., Oosthuizen, V., and Jacob, U. (2000) Nature 406, 267-273). These engineered antibodies may have important implications for improving antibody therapeutic efficacy.

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Inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) have been reported to have activities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by inhibiting Cdk7 and Cdk9, which control transcription. Here we studied the novel Cdk inhibitor SNS-032, which exhibits potent and selective inhibitory activity against Cdk2, Cdk7, and Cdk9. We hypoth-

Insulin action may involve the intracellular generation of low molecular weight substances that modulate certain key enzymes. The production of two substances that regulate the activity of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase was evaluated in cultured myocytes by incorporation of radiolabeled precursors. Insulin caused the rapid hydrolysis of a chemically undefined membrane glycolipid, resulting in the production of two related complex carbohydrates as well as diacylglycerol. Both the glycolipid precursor and the aqueous products were monitored by labeling with radioactive inositol and glucosamine. Depletion of the labeled precursor and the appearance of labeled water-soluble products and diacylglycerol occurred within 30 seconds after hormone treatment and was followed by rapid resynthesis of the precursor. The aqueous products that were radioactively labeled appeared chromatographically and electrophoretically identical to phosphodiesterase modulating activities produced by insulin from the same cells. The purified radiolabeled and bioactive substances had similar chemical properties. Hydrolysis of the glycolipid precursor and subsequent generation of products could be reproduced by incubation of extracted lipids with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. These studies suggest that insulin stimulates an endogenous, selective phospholipase C activity that hydrolyzes a novel glycolipid, resulting in the generation of a complex carbohydrate-phosphate substance containing inositol and glucosamine that may mediate some of the actions of the hormone.

SNS-032 demonstrated mechanism-based target modulation and limited clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients with CLL and MM. Further single-agent, PD-based, dose and schedule modification is warranted to maximize clinical efficacy.