FcγRIIa requires lipid rafts, but not co-localization into rafts, for effector function.

Objective: To determine if receptor localization into lipid rafts, or the lipid rafts themselves, are important for FcγRIIa effector functions.

Material: Wild-type FcγRIIa or mutant FcγRIIa(C208A) that does not translocate to lipid rafts were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells which have been shown to be reliable cells for studying FcγR function.

Treatment: Cells were treated with buffer or methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) to deplete cholesterol and dissolve the structure of lipid rafts.