Abstract: A variant of a polypeptide comprising a human IgG Fc region is described, which variant comprises an amino acid substitution at one or more of amino acid positions 270, 322, 326, 327, 329, 331, 333 or 334 of the human IgG Fc region. Such variants display altered effector function. For example, C1q binding and/or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activity may be altered in the variant polypeptide.

Abstract: Transition state analogs are described which may be used to elicit antibodies that catalyze the conversion of asparagine to aspartic acid. Synthetic schemes are disclosed for making the transition state analogs which can than be attached to a carrier molecule to form an immunoconjugate. Immunoconjugates can be administered to an animal for the purpose of raising antibodies. Antibodies can in turn be used in pharmaceutical compositions which can be given to patients as part of a method of treating various conditions, particularly cancer.

Abstract: A tracing tool for marking an outline of an irregular surface onto a sheet of material so that the sheet of material can be cut along such outline to fit snugly against the irregular surface, such tool including a case having a cavity in communication with an opening in the case, such case enclosing a piston having a shaft linearly extending therefrom through the case opening with a spring biasing the piston toward the case opening, and a marking device passing through a marking hole in the shaft which marking hole is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of material. The shaft at its end includes a horizontally disposed guide roller for facilitating sideways rolling of the shaft along the irregular surface while the shaft moves back and forth perpendicularly to the irregular surface which movement moves the piston in the cavity as the marking device marks the outline of the irregular surface on the sheet of material.