title: A cobra venom factor (CVF)-induced C3 convertase activity in the hemolymph of Galleria mellonella.
abstract: A cobra venom factor (CVF)-induced C3 convertase has been generated from the hemolymph of Galleria mellonella. CVF was immobilized on Sepharose 4B and treated with cell-free hemolymph obtained from either unvaccinated G. mellonella larvae or larvae immunized with formalized Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The C3-cleaving activity was detected by the ability to cleave the alpha-chain of bovine C3 in a manner analogous to the CVF-induced mammalian C3 convertase, CVF,Bb. The insect-derived C3 convertase formed at 28 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C, then once formed was active at both 28 degrees C and 37 degrees C. EDTA did not inhibit the formation and action of the insect derived C3 cleaving activity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050577:Complement C3-C5 Convertases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000201:enzymology*; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004546:Elapid Venoms; C016310:cobra venom factor; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes; D050577:Complement C3-C5 Convertases