Structures of C3b in Complex with Factors B and D Give Insight into Complement Convertase Formation
- 24 December 2010
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 330 (6012), 1816-1820
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1195821
Abstract
A Safety Catch on Immune Response: The complement system is an integral part of the innate immune system. When triggered, it initiates a cascade that marks intruders for elimination and stimulates immune responses. The key amplification step is cleavage of a complex comprising the complement fragment C3b and factor B (C3bB) by factor D (FD).Forneriset al.(p.1816) now describe the crystal structure of C3bB and its complex with FD. The structures support a mechanism in which membrane-bound C3b stabilizes an open form of factor B (FB) that has its scissile bond accessible. FD binds through a site distant from its catalytic center to the open form of FB, which activates FD. The two conformational equilibria represent a double safety-catch that would allow tight regulation of this immune response pathway.Keywords
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