title: Polymerization of factor B of the alternative complement pathway via disulfide bond(s) in the presence of Cu2+ and stimulation by C3b, the major fragment of C3.
abstract: Factor B(B) of the alternative complement pathway has been found to dimerize via disulfide bond(s) in the presence of CuCl2. Poly B has no B activity. The Bb fragment was also dimerized, indicating that one free sulfhydryl group on the Bb portion might be involved in polymerization. The Ba fragment was not dimerized. C3b, the major fragment of C3, has the capacity to stimulate polymerization of B. Incubation of C3b, B and factor D in the presence of Mg2+ and Cu2+ resulted in the formation of poly B and diminished cleavage of B. These results suggest that polymerization of B due to Cu2+ might be partly responsible for the impairment of C3 convertase activity of the alternative pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D003176:Complement C3 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003179:Complement C3b / Q000378:metabolism*; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D004220:Disulfides; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D003300:Copper; D003179:Complement C3b; D011415:Complement Factor B; C029892:cupric chloride