Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructure of cobra venom factor-dependent C3/C5 convertase and its zymogen, factor B of human complement. 1982

C A Smith, and C W Vogel, and H J Müller-Eberhard

The molecular architecture of the cobra venom factor (CVF)-dependent C3/C5 convertase (EC 3.4.21.47) of human complement was deduced from electron microscopy of the purified bimolecular complex (CVF,Bb) and its isolated subunits, CVF and Bb. Negatively stained CVF imaged as an irregularly shaped cylindrical structure, with approximate dimensions of 137 A x 82 A (length x diameter). The zymogen Factor B appeared globular with a diameter of about 80 A and its image suggested a bipartite structure of two compact, closely associated regions, one about twice as large as the other. Bb, the larger, catalytic site-bearing cleavage fragment of Factor B, revealed two globular domains, each 40 A in diameter, connected by a short linker region about 10 A long and thick. CVF and Bb could be distinguished in micrographs of the CVF,Bb complex: Bb attached to one end of the CVF molecule through only one of its two domains, and in an orientation making the long axes of both molecules approximately orthogonal. It is suggested the naturally occurring C3 convertases (C3b,Bb and C4b,2a) have a similar morphology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D003166	Complement Activating Enzymes	Enzymes that activate one or more COMPLEMENT PROTEINS in the complement system leading to the formation of the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX, an important response in host defense. They are enzymes in the various COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION pathways.	Activating Enzymes, Complement,Enzymes, Complement Activating
D004546	Elapid Venoms	Venoms from snakes of the family Elapidae, including cobras, kraits, mambas, coral, tiger, and Australian snakes. The venoms contain polypeptide toxins of various kinds, cytolytic, hemolytic, and neurotoxic factors, but fewer enzymes than viper or crotalid venoms. Many of the toxins have been characterized.	Cobra Venoms,Elapidae Venom,Elapidae Venoms,Naja Venoms,Cobra Venom,Elapid Venom,Hydrophid Venom,Hydrophid Venoms,King Cobra Venom,Naja Venom,Ophiophagus hannah Venom,Sea Snake Venom,Sea Snake Venoms,Venom, Cobra,Venom, Elapid,Venom, Elapidae,Venom, Hydrophid,Venom, King Cobra,Venom, Naja,Venom, Ophiophagus hannah,Venom, Sea Snake,Venoms, Cobra,Venoms, Elapid,Venoms, Elapidae,Venoms, Hydrophid,Venoms, Naja,Venoms, Sea Snake
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular
D050577	Complement C3-C5 Convertases	Serine proteases that cleave COMPLEMENT C3 into COMPLEMENT C3A and COMPLEMENT C3B, or cleave COMPLEMENT C5 into COMPLEMENT C5A and COMPLEMENT C5B. These include the different forms of C3/C5 convertases in the classical and the alternative pathways of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION. Both cleavages take place at the C-terminal of an ARGININE residue.	C3 Convertase,C 3 Convertase,C3 Activator,C3-C5 Convertase,C5 Cleaving Enzyme,C5 Convertase,Complement 3 Convertase,Complement 5 Convertase,Complement C3 Convertases,Complement C5 Convertases,Activator, C3,C3 C5 Convertase,C3 Convertases, Complement,C3-C5 Convertases, Complement,C5 Convertases, Complement,Complement C3 C5 Convertases,Convertase, C 3,Convertase, C3,Convertase, C3-C5,Convertase, Complement 3,Convertases, Complement C3,Convertases, Complement C3-C5,Convertases, Complement C5