Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against epitopes on the C gamma 1, C gamma 2, C gamma 3 and C gamma 2-C gamma 3 interface regions of human IgG were used to attempt to localize the monocyte Fc receptor (FcR) binding site. The MAbs have been assayed for their capacity to inhibit the interaction between 125I-labelled IgG (125I-IgG) and human monocytes or human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells. Two MAbs specific for epitopes on the N-terminal region of the C gamma 2 domain, and one MAb recognizing an epitope in the C gamma 2-C gamma 3 inter-domain region inhibited binding of 125I-IgG to monocyte FcRs. The remaining MAbs, against a C-terminal C gamma 3 domain epitope, another C gamma 2/C gamma 3 region epitope and the G1m(f) allotope on the C gamma 1 domain did not inhibit the interaction. The capacity of the MAbs to bind to their respective epitopes on cell surface FcR-bound IgG was also studied, using indirect radiobinding and immunofluorescence assays. All of the MAbs, except those with C gamma 2 domain specificities, were able to detect FcR-bound IgG under these conditions. The results confirm the role of the C gamma 2 domain in the interaction of IgG with monocytes and demonstrate that epitopes in the C gamma 3 and C gamma 2-C gamma 3 regions are not involved in the binding site.