The present invention includes three-dimensional models of antibody receptor proteins, such as Fc.epsilon.RI.alpha. proteins, and methods to produce such models. The present invention also includes muteins having increased stabili ty and/or antibody binding activity, as well as methods to produce such muteins , preferably using information derived from three-dimensional models of the present invention. Also included are nucleic acid sequences encoding muteins of the present invention and use of those sequences to produce such muteins. Also included is the use of the model to identify compounds that inhibit the binding of an antibody receptor protein to an antibody. The present inventio n also includes uses of such muteins and inhibitory compounds, for example, in methods to diagnose and protect animals from allergy and other abnormal immu ne responses.
CRYSTALLIZED FORM OF FC EPSILON RECEPTOR ALPHA CHAIN, ITS 3-D MODEL AND USES THEREOF