scholarly journals The human complement system: assembly of the classical pathway C3 convertase

1980 ◽  
Vol 189 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Kerr

The assembly of the classical pathway C3 convertase in the fluid phase has been studied. The enzyme is assembled from C2 and C4 on cleavage of these proteins by C1s. Once assembled, the enzyme activity decays rapidly. Kinetic evidence has been obtained that this decay is even more rapid than previously suggested (kdecay is 2.0 min-1 at 37 degrees C). As a result, optimal C3 convertase activity is only observed with high C1s levels, which result in rapid rates of cleavage of C2 and increased rates of formation of the C3 convertase. Using high concentrations of C1s at lower temperatures (22 degrees C) in the presence of excess substrate we have demonstrated kinetically that the enzyme comprises an equimolar complex of C4b and cleaved C2. We have obtained direct evidence from gel-filtration experiments for the role of C2a as the catalytic subunit of the enzyme. C2b appears to mediate the interaction between C4 (or C4b) and C2 at pH 8.5 and at low ionic strength where the interactions can easily be detected. It may therefore be important in the assembly of the enzyme, though it is not involved in the catalytic activity. The decay of the C3 convertase reflects the release of C2a from the C4b x (C2b) x C2a complex, and the stabilizing effect of iodine on the C3 convertase is therefore apparently one of stabilizing the C4b-C2z interaction, which is otherwise weak. C1s is not a part of the C3 convertase enzyme.

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (22) ◽  
pp. 3347-3356 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Singer-Kruger ◽  
Y. Nemoto ◽  
L. Daniell ◽  
S. Ferro-Novick ◽  
P. De Camilli

The synaptojanins represent a subfamily of inositol 5′-phosphatases that contain an NH2-terminal Sac1p homology domain. A nerve terminal-enriched synaptojanin, synaptojanin 1, was previously proposed to participate in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicles and actin function. The genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains three synaptojanin-like genes (SJL1, SJL2 and SJL3), none of which is essential for growth. We report here that a yeast mutant lacking SJL1 and SJL2 (Deltasjl1 Deltasjl2) exhibits a severe defect in receptor-mediated and fluid-phase endocytosis. A less severe endocytic defect is present in a Deltasjl2 Deltasjl3 mutant, while endocytosis is normal in a Deltasjl1 Deltasjl3 mutant. None of the mutants are impaired in invertase secretion. The severity of the endocytic impairment of the sjl double mutants correlates with the severity of actin and polarity defects. Furthermore, the deletion of SJL1 suppresses the temperature-sensitive growth defect of sac6, a mutant in yeast fimbrin, supporting a role for synaptojanin family members in actin function. These findings provide a first direct evidence for a role of synaptojanin family members in endocytosis and provide further evidence for a close link between endocytosis and actin function.


1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 2772-2777 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Johnson ◽  
P. W. Cheng ◽  
R. C. Boucher

Albumin concentrations in airway surface liquid are low compared with plasma. To investigate the mechanisms that generate albumin gradients across airway epithelia, we have investigated whether active albumin absorption is a feature of bronchial epithelia. Freshly excised canine bronchi were mounted in Ussing chambers and short-circuited. Permeability coefficients of 14C-labeled canine albumin (Palb) were measured in the mucosal-to-submucosal (M----S) and submucosal-to-mucosal (S----M) directions in conductance-matched tissues. Mean steady-state values for Palb in the absorptive (M----S) direction (5.97 +/- 1.89 x 10(-7) cm/s) were significantly greater than rates in the S----M direction (1.09 +/- 0.41 x 10(-7) cm/s). Simultaneous measurements detected no asymmetry of transport of the fluid phase marker [3H]inulin. Gel filtration chromatography demonstrated that the majority of the radiolabel released into the submucosal bathing solution represented albumin fragments. Albumin fragments per se were not transported because no asymmetries in permeabilities of albumin fragments isolated from spontaneous degradation of tracer were detected. Decreasing the temperature of the bathing solution from 37 to 4 degrees C completely inhibited net albumin absorption. [14C]albumin transport was saturated by addition of high concentrations of unlabeled albumin (estimated Michaelis constant = 1.6 x 10(-3) M). These results demonstrate that albumin is absorbed by a low-affinity process that may contribute to the maintenance of low albumin concentrations in secretions.


1981 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 1138-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Iida ◽  
V Nussenzweig

A glycoprotein from the membrane of human erythrocytes has been identified as a receptor for C3b (CR1). It promotes the dissociation of the alternative pathway C3 convertase C3b,Bb and the cleavage of C3b by C3b/C4b inactivator. We find that CR1 also inactivates the C3 and C5 convertases of the classical pathway. CR1 inhibits the consumption of C3 by C3 convertase EAC142 and enhances the decay of C4b,2a sites. On a weight basis, CR1 is approximately 5-10 times more active than C4 binding protein, a serum inhibitor of C4b,2a. The binding of 125I-CR1 to EAC14 cells is inhibited by C2. Therefore, it is likely that CR1 and C2 compete for a site on C4b. CR1 inhibited C5 convertase even more effectively, but had no effect on the assembly of the late complement components. At high concentrations, CR1 alone has no irreversible effects on cell-bound C4b. In the fluid phase, CR1 can function as a cofactor for the cleavage of the alpha' chain of C4b by C3b/C4b inactivator. A well-known function of CR1 is to promote adherence of microbes or immune complexes bearing C3b and C4b to cells. This interaction could result in a microenvironment damaging to the plasma membrane of the responding cell because the extrinsic C3b and C4b fragments can serve as additional sites of assembly of enzymes of the cascade. We therefore wish to propose that CR1 on the surface of cells supplies an increased local concentration of a strong inhibitor of the amplifying enzymes of the complement system and provides cells with a mechanism for circumventing damage when they bind C3b- and C4b-bearing substrates.


1981 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Fisher ◽  
R A Laine

A cell-surface microvillar fraction that was isolated from the syncytiotrophoblastic cells of first-trimester human placentas was found to contain very high concentrations (890 +/- 32 microgram of hexose/mg of protein) of a class of low-molecular-weight oligosaccharides that were comprised entirely of glucose. T.l.c. and gel filtration showed that the saccharides contained from one to six glucose residues. The structures of the most prominent members of the series, a tetra- and a tri-saccharide, were determined. The anomeric configuration of the glucose residues was alpha, and methylation linkage analysis gave terminal and 4-linked hexose residues. These malto-oligosaccharides contained one reducing terminus per molecule, indicating that they were free and not bound to other structural elements of the cells. Within the placenta they appeared to be concentrated in the first-trimester trophoblastic cells, since crude membrane and particulate fractions isolated from either term trophoblastic cells or cultured placental fibroblasts did not contain detectable amounts of glucose oligomers. This series of oligosaccharides was similar to the products that are formed when glycogen is degraded by alpha-amylase in liver homogenates and may be indicative of a similar, highly active enzymic reaction closely associated with the brush border of the syncytiotrophoblastic cells of the first-trimester human placenta. Although the role of these oligosaccharides remains obscure they are probably involved in foetal metabolism.


Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Szmihelsky ◽  
Matthew Steele-MacInnis ◽  
Wyatt M. Bain ◽  
Hendrik Falck ◽  
Robin Adair ◽  
...  

Hydrocarbons are commonly invoked as triggers for the precipitation of sphalerite in carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposits, but direct evidence for the presence of petroleum during sulfide mineralization is rarely documented. Here, we report evidence of fluid mixing between basinal brines and oil during deposition of coarse sphalerite at a classic carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn district, Pine Point, Northwest Territories, Canada. The brines contain high concentrations of Pb, detectable aqueous sulfate, and hydrocarbons that attest to chemical interaction with oil. The oil inclusions in sphalerite contain much less Pb relative to the brines and no evident H2S, suggesting that the principal role of hydrocarbons was as a reductant. Mixing of brine with oil enabled the conversion of aqueous sulfate to sulfide, and thereby triggered sphalerite deposition.


1990 ◽  
Vol 271 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Maeda ◽  
S Nagasawa

The assembly of the classical-pathway C3 convertase from C4 and I2-treated C2 by the action of C1s is an Mg2(+)-dependent reaction. The Mg2+ concentration necessary for the assembly of C3 convertase in the fluid phase was found to be dependent on NaCl concentration. In the absence of NaCl more than 5 mM-MgCl2 was found to be required, whereas 0.5 mM-MgCl2 was adequate for the assembly of C3 convertase in the presence of 150 mM-NaCl. The C3 convertase assembled in a low-ionic-strength buffer was extremely labile compared with that assembled in buffer of physiological ionic strength, and the stability of C3 convertase was improved with the increase in NaCl concentration. It was found that the stabilizing effect of NaCl on C3 convertase was due to inhibition of the dissociating activity of C2b, which was formed during the assembly of C3 convertase. In addition to the dissociation-accelerating effect, C2b inhibited the assembly of C3 convertase in low-ionic-strength buffer, and this effect also was diminished with increase in NaCl concentration. An increase in NaCl concentration to more than 200 mM resulted in a decrease in the assembly of C3 convertase. This effect was not due to the lability of the assembled C3 convertase but due rather to the inhibition of C2 cleavage by C1s. Purified C3 convertase itself is stable in dilute medium or high-ionic-strength medium such as 500 mM-NaCl, suggesting that the interactions between C4b and C2a are hydrophobic. In these respects C2b seemed to be functionally similar to C4bp, but C2b failed to act as a cofactor for the Factor I-catalysed C4b cleavage.


1974 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
pp. 797-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Morrison ◽  
Charles G. Cochrane

Purified precursor Hageman factor has been demonstrated to bind to soluble bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) isolated from Escherichia coli 0111:B4, and this complex has been shown to have the capacity to convert prekallikrein to its active form. In addition, LPS-activated Hageman factor substantially reduces clotting times in XII-deficient plasma. The capacity to activate Hageman factor has been demonstrated to reside in the lipid A region of the LPS molecule. Activation of Hageman factor by LPS contrasts with fluid-phase activation (e.g., by kallikrein or trypsin) in that no cleavage to lower molecular weight fragments occurs. High concentrations of LPS inhibit the activity of Hageman factor, probably by a direct LPS-Hageman factor interaction.


2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Karl Healey ◽  
Karen L. Campbell ◽  
Lynn Hasher ◽  
Lynn Ossher
Keyword(s):  

1981 ◽  
Vol 193 (1) ◽  
pp. 375-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
A R Ashton ◽  
L E Anderson

Plastocyanin is soluble at high concentrations (greater than 3 M) of (NH4)2SO4 but under these conditions will adsorb tightly to unsubstituted Sepharose beads. This observation was utilized to purify plastocyanin from pea (Pisum sativum) in two chromatographic steps. Sepharose-bound plastocyanin was eluted with low-ionic-strength buffer and subsequently purified to homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 495-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sok ◽  
Xiao-Zhong Wang ◽  
Nikoleta Batchvarova ◽  
Masahiko Kuroda ◽  
Heather Harding ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT CHOP (also called GADD153) is a stress-inducible nuclear protein that dimerizes with members of the C/EBP family of transcription factors and was initially identified as an inhibitor of C/EBP binding to classic C/EBP target genes. Subsequent experiments suggested a role for CHOP-C/EBP heterodimers in positively regulating gene expression; however, direct evidence that this is the case has so far not been uncovered. Here we describe the identification of a positively regulated direct CHOP-C/EBP target gene, that encoding murine carbonic anhydrase VI (CA-VI). The stress-inducible form of the gene is expressed from an internal promoter and encodes a novel intracellular form of what is normally a secreted protein. Stress-induced expression of CA-VI is both CHOP and C/EBPβ dependent in that it does not occur in cells deficient in either gene. A CHOP-responsive element was mapped to the inducibleCA-VI promoter, and in vitro footprinting revealed binding of CHOP-C/EBP heterodimers to that site. Rescue of CA-VIexpression in c/ebpβ−/− cells by exogenous C/EBPβ and a shorter, normally inhibitory isoform of the protein known as LIP suggests that the role of the C/EBP partner is limited to targeting the CHOP-containing heterodimer to the response element and points to a preeminent role for CHOP in CA-VI induction during stress.


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