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Human complement proteins D, C2, and B. Active site mapping with peptide thioester substrates.

The specificity and reactivity of complement serine proteases D, B, Bb, C2, and C2a were determined using a series of peptide thioester substrates. The rates of thioester hydrolysis were measured using assay mixtures containing the thiol reagent 4,4'-dithiodipyridine at pH 7.5. Each substrate contained a P1 arginine residue, and the effect of various groups and amino acids in the P2, P3, P4, and P5 positions was determined using kcat/Km values to compare reactivities. Among peptide thioesters corresponding to the activation site sequence in B, dipeptide thioesters containing a P2 lysine residue were the best substrates for D. Extending the chain to include a P3 or P4 amino acid resulted in loss of activity, and neither the tripeptide nor the tetrapeptide containing the cleavage sequence of B was hydrolyzed. Overall, D cleaved fewer substrates and was 2-3 orders of magnitude less reactive than C1s against some thioester substrates. C2 and fragment C2a had comparable reactivities and hydrolyzed peptides containing Leu-Ala-Arg and Leu-Gly-Arg, which have the same sequence as the cleavage sites of C3 and C5, respectively. The best substrates for C2 and C2a were Z-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-SBzl and Z-Leu-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-SBzl, respectively, where Bzl is benzyl. B was the least reactive among these complement enzymes. The best substrate for B was Z-Lys-Arg-SBzl with a kcat/Km value of 1370 M-1 s-1. The catalytic fragment of B, Bb, had higher activity toward these peptide thioester substrates. The best substrate for Bb was Z-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-SBzl with a kcat/Km similar to C2a and 10 times higher than the value for B. Both C2a and Bb were considerably more reactive against C3-like than C5-like substrates. Bovine trypsin hydrolyzed thioester substrates with kcat/Km approximately 10(3) higher than the complement enzymes. These thioester substrates for D, B, and C2 should be quite useful in kinetic and active site studies of the purified enzymes.

Animals↗

Crystal structure of the RIM2 C2A-domain at 1.4 A resolution.

RIMs are large proteins that contain two C2-domains and are localized at presynaptic active zones, where neurotransmitters are released. RIMs play key roles in synaptic vesicle priming and regulation of presynaptic plasticity. A mutation in the RIM1 C2A-domain has been implicated in autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy (CORD7). The RIM C2A-domain does not contain the full complement of aspartate residues that commonly mediate Ca2+ binding at the top loops of C2-domains, and has been reported to interact with SNAP-25 and synaptotagmin 1, two proteins from the Ca2+-dependent membrane fusion machinery. Here we have used NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to analyze the structure and biochemical properties of the RIM2 C2A-domain, which is closely related to the RIM1 C2A-domain. We find that the RIM2 C2A-domain does not bind Ca2+. Moreover, little binding of the RIM2 C2A-domain to SNAP-25 and to the C2-domains of synaptotagmin 1 was detected by NMR experiments, suggesting that as yet unidentified interactions of the RIM C2A-domain mediate its function. The crystal structure of the RIM2 C2A-domain using data to 1.4 A resolution reveals a beta-sandwich that resembles those observed for other C2-domains, but exhibits a unique dipolar distribution of electrostatic charges whereby one edge of the beta-sandwich is highly positive and the other edge is highly negative. The location of the mutation site implicated in CORD7 at the bottom of the domain and the pattern of sequence conservation suggest that, in contrast to most C2-domains, the RIM C2A-domains may function through Ca2+-independent interactions involving their bottom face.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparative study of the fluid-phase proteolytic cleavage of human complement subcomponents C4 and C2 by C1s and C1r2-C1s2.

The C3 convertase of the classical pathway of complement is composed of fragments C4b and C2a resulting from cleavage of C4 and C2 by activated C1. The limited proteolysis of these two different substrates by the same protease, C1s, has been studied in the fluid phase using purified proteins. The turnover numbers of C2 and C4 cleavage by C1s were affected to different extents, depending on whether C1s was alone or associated with C1r or with monoclonal antibodies to C1s. The binding of C2 to C4 favours the proteolysis of C2 by C1s, as revealed by the use of I2-treated C2.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Cleavage of C2 by C1s into the antigenically distinct fragments C2a and C2b: demonstration of binding of C2b to C4b.

The activation of complement component C2 by C1s is a major reaction step leading to the assembly of two related macromolecular enzymes in the classical complement pathway C3 convertase and C5 convertase. The present studies clearly document the smaller fragment, C2b, that results when human C2 reacts with C1s. We have identified and characterized C2b (34,000 daltons) as a single protein on disc electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. C2a (73,000 daltons), the larger fragment from this reaction, has a more acidic nature and C2b is more basic. These fragments can also be detected by their different antigenic determinants. When the C2-C4b complex is activated in the fluid phase by C1s and allowed to decay, it dissociates into C2a and the C2b-C4b complex. Furthermore, when C2 is bound to C4b-Sepharose and then reacted with C1s, only the C2a fragment is released from the solid phase C2-C4b-Sepharose into the fluid phase, and the C2b fragment remains noncovalently bound to C4b-Sepharose. These results suggest that the C2b portion of C2 contains a stable binding site for C4b and, after the decay release of C2a from this C3 convertase, the C2b fragment remains bound. Thus, the decay release of C2a may represent a temperature-dependent dissociation from C2b.

Binding Sites↗

Covalent binding of C3b to C4b within the classical complement pathway C5 convertase. Determination of amino acid residues involved in ester linkage formation.

C5 convertase of the classical complement pathway is a protein complex consisting of C4b, C2a, and C3b. Within this complex C3b binds to C4b via an ester linkage. We now present evidence that the covalent C3b-binding site on human C4b is Ser at position 1217 of C4. We also show that formation of the covalently linked C4b.C3b complex occurs in the mouse complement system and that the C3b-binding site on mouse C4b is Ser at position 1213 which is homologous to Ser-1217 of human C4. Therefore, covalent binding of C3b to a single specific site on C4b within the classical pathway C5 convertase is likely a common phenomenon in the mammalian complement system. Specific noncovalent association of metastable C3b with C4b would occur first, leading to reaction of the thioester with a specific hydroxy group. This is supported by two lines of experimental evidence, one which shows that a mutant C4 that does not make a covalent linkage with C3b is still capable of forming C5 convertase and a second in which the C4b.C3b complex has been demonstrated by cross-linking erythrocytes bearing this C5 convertase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibition of complement activation by recombinant Sh-CRIT-ed1 analogues.

Sh-CRIT-ed1 is a potent anti-complement peptide that inhibits the classical complement-activation pathway by interfering with the formation of the C3-convertase complex, C4b2a. C2 is an essential serum glycoprotein that provides the catalytic subunit of the C3 and C5 convertases of the classical pathways of complement activation. Because only in its C4-bound state is C2a capable of cleaving its physiological protein substrates C3 and C5, the interaction of Sh-CRIT-ed1 with C2 plays a decisive role of inhibition in the classical complement-activation process. However, the role of individual Sh-CRIT-ed1 amino acid residues in C2 binding is not fully understood. We constructed nine recombinant Sh-CRIT-ed1 (rSh1) analogues, substituted at conserved residues, and evaluated their anti-complement and C2-binding activities. Results from glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down and haemolytic assays suggested that residues 10K, 17E, 19K and 26Y are critical for the interaction of rSh1 with C2. We then constructed an improved anti-complement peptide by duplicating Sh-CRIT-ed1 C-terminal motifs (17H-26Y). This linear homodimer (rH17d) was more potent than rSh1 with respect to binding to C2 and anti-complement activity (the 50% inhibitory concentration value was approximately equal 1.2 micro m versus approximately equal 6.02 micro m for rSh1). Furthermore, rH17d showed higher anti-complement activity in vivo, providing additional evidence that this duplication is a more effective inhibitor of complement activation than rSh1. Taken together, these results identify four key residues in rSh1 and strongly suggest that rH17d is a potent inhibitor of complement activation that may have therapeutic applications.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of the covalent C3b-binding site on C4b within the complement classical pathway C5 convertase, C4b2a3b.

C5 convertase of the classical complement pathway is a trimolecular protein complex consisting of C4b, C2a, and C3b. In the complex there is an ester bond between C3b and C4b. We analyzed the C5 convertase formed on erythrocytes and localized the covalent binding site of C3b to a small region on C4b. The covalently linked C4b.C3b complex was purified from a detergent extract of the erythrocytes and digested with lysyl endopeptidase. An Mr 17,000 fragment containing the ester linkage between C4b and C3b was purified and its amino-terminal sequence was examined. Two amino acids were obtained at each cycle and identified with those in the sequences of C3 and C4. The sequence derived from C3 corresponded to the thioester region. The sequence derived from C4 started at Ala-1186. Alkali treatment of the fragment yielded an Mr 7,000 peptide derived from C4, which thus appeared to span the region of C4 from Ala-1186 to Lys-1259. Therefore, the covalent C3b-binding site on C4b is located within a 74-residue region of the primary structure. This finding supports the notion that after cleavage of C3 by the C4b2a complex, the covalent binding of metastable C3b to C4b is a specific reaction to form a trimolecular complex with a defined quaternary structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cleavage of the second component of complement by plasma proteases: implications in hereditary C1-inhibitor deficiency.

EDTA plasma from patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), the genetic deficiency of C1-inhibitor, when incubated at 37 degrees produces a kinin-like activity which can induce contraction of oestrus rat uterus. The second component of complement (C2) has previously been suggested to be the source of this kinin-like activity, with the implication that C2-kinin is a normal product of complement activation. Our results show that purified human C2 is cleaved rapidly to C2a and C2b when added to HAE plasma, but not normal plasma or plasma from a danazol-treated HAE patient. However, the addition to HAE plasma of C2 at 20 X normal plasma concentration had no effect on the kinin activity generated on incubation at 37 degrees. In the presence of soya bean trypsin inhibitor, the rate of C2 cleavage and products were unaltered but no kinin activity was generated. C2 was cleaved by purified C1s to C2a and C2b. Incubation of C2 with trypsin resulted in cleavage to C2a and C2b followed by more extensive cleavage of both C2a and C2b. Kallikrein cleaved C2 to C2a and C2b but plasmin had no effect on C2. In no case was kinin activity generated. When C2 was cleaved by C1s to C2a and C2b then incubated with trypsin, kallikrein, or plasmin, no kinin activity was generated: only trypsin cleaved the C2 fragments further. The results suggest that C2 is not the source of the kinin-like activity generated in hereditary angioedema plasma.

Angioedema↗

Substituted isocoumarins as inhibitors of complement serine proteases.

Inhibition of complement proteins D, B, C2, C1s, C1r, I, and the catalytic fragments Bb and C2a by substituted isocoumarins was investigated. 3,4-Dichloroisocoumarin, a general serine protease inhibitor, inhibited factor D, C1r, and C1s moderately with second-order inhibition constants (kobs/[I]) of 40 to 190 M-1 s-1, but it did not inhibit C2, factor B, C2a, or Bb. The best inhibitor for factors D and B was 4-chloro-7-guanidino-3-methoxyisocoumarin with kobs/[I] values of 250 and 290 M-1 s-1, respectively. Most isocoumarins did not inhibit C2 or C2a; only 4-chloro-3-isothiureidoalkoxyisocoumarins were slightly inhibitory. 3-Alkoxy-4-chloro-7-guanidinoisocoumarins inhibited C1r and C1s moderately. The best inhibitor for C1r and C1s was 4-chloro-3-(3-isothiureidopropoxy)isocoumarin with kobs/[I] values of 6,600 and 130,000 M-1 s-1, respectively. Fifty amino acid or peptide thioesters containing Arg or other amino acids at the P1 site were tested as substrates of factor I, however none was hydrolyzed. Isocoumarins substituted with chloro and basic groups such as guanidino and isothiureidoalkoxy inhibited factor I activity with its natural substrate C3b, but kobs/[I] values were low. 4-Chloro-3-ethoxy-7-guanidinoisocoumarin inhibited activation of the alternative pathway and, to a lesser extent, of the classical pathway in serum. Several other substituted isocoumarins also inhibited cobra venom factor-initiated activation of the alternative pathway in serum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complement components, complement activation, and acute phase response in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The investigation concerned 33 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients assigned to three groups representing mild SLE, more severe extra renal SLE, and SLE with significant renal involvement. In patients with extrarenal disease, the inflammatory plasma protein response was often pronounced during exacerbation, as evidenced by markedly increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and orosomucoid. CRP responses were rare in patients with renal involvement, despite the increased concentrations of other acute-phase reactants in some of these patients. Superimposed bacterial infections were not clearly distinguished by raised CRP concentrations. The classical pathway of complement was activated in all patients during exacerbation, as indicated by increased concentrations of C1r-C1s-C1 inactivator complexes and C2a fragments. C1, C2, and probably also C3 activation varied according to the amounts of circulating C1q-binding immune complexes, as measured by solid-phase assay. Manifest hypocomplementemia was usually associated with glomerulonephritis. Participation of complement components in the inflammatory plasma protein response apparently counteracted the development of hypocomplementemia in many patients with extrarenal SLE. Circulating C3d was detected in all patients during exacerbation of renal disease and in most patients with severe extrarenal manifestations. Inverse relationships were found between immunochemical C2 concentrations and the percentage of cleaved C2 and between C3 and C3d. There was no appreciable consumption of factors B and D and properdin of the alternative pathway in the patients. High concentrations of factor D, a low molecular weight protein, were exclusively found in patients with renal involvement and could be ascribed to retention due to reduced glomerular filtration.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Evidence that C4b-binding protein (proline-rich protein) is synthesized by hepatocytes.

C4b-binding protein (C4bp), a glycoprotein involved in regulating the classical pathway of the complement system, binds the activated form of C4b and accelerates the decay rate of the C4b, C2a complex. Recently, sequence analysis of the cDNA for proline-rich protein (PRP) demonstrated that PRP is identical with C4bp. We measured the concentration of C4bp in serum by single radial immunodiffusion in patients with various liver diseases. Concentration of C4bp was significantly lower in hepatic cirrhosis (P = 0.001) and higher in fatty liver (P = 0.0002) than the control values, after adjusting for age, sex, and concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and C-reactive protein. Significant positive correlations were observed between the concentration of C4bp in serum and total protein, albumin, cholinesterase level, and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Immunohistochemical analysis of human liver with specific antiserum to human C4bp demonstrated reaction endproducts in the hepatocytes around the central veins. These observations provide evidence that C4bp is synthesized by hepatocytes.

Animals↗

Primary structure of human complement component C2. Homology to two unrelated protein families.

The primary structure of the second component of human complement (C2) was determined by cDNA cloning and sequence analysis. C2 has 39% identity with the functionally analogous protein Factor B. The C-terminal half of C2a is homologous to the catalytic domains of other serine proteinases. C2b contains three direct repeats of approx. 60 amino acid residues. They are homologous to repeats in Factor B, C4b-binding protein and Factor H, suggesting a functional significance of the repeat in C4b and C3b binding. The repeats are also found in the non-complement proteins beta 2-glycoprotein I and interleukin-2 receptor, and this repeat family may be widespread.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Complement-inhibiting acidic factors from the venom of Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana].

Two anticomplementic factors isolated from the venom of the Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and subsequent gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 were studied. Of these, five factors (CFA-Ia, CFA-Ib, CFA-Ic, CFA-IIa and CFA-IIb), CFA-Ib had been characterized earlier, while CFA-Ia was assigned to a previously identified H-CoF factor. It was shown that CFA-Ic has a molecular mass of 3900 Da; its content in the venom amounts to 2.6 mg/g of dry venom. This factor inhibits the classical pathway of C3 convertase formation abrogating the C2 component activation by subcomponent C1s [Ki = (2.5 +/- 0.8).10(-7) M]. CFA-IIa and CFA-IIb are present in the venom in very low amounts (2 mg/g) and have Mr of 5700 and 3200 Da, respectively. The complement-inhibiting action was studied for a more active CFA-IIa. Factor CFA-IIa was shown to inactivate the native component of C2 with a rate constant, k, of (2.7 +/- 0.2).10(3) s-1M-1 (37 degrees C, pH 7.4). CFA-IIa had no effect on C2 and C2a within their complexes with C4b.

Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose↗

The purification and properties of the second component of guinea-pig complement.

A method has been developed for the purification to homogeneity of guinea-pig complement component C2. Contrary to previous reports, guinea-pig C2 is a single polypeptide chain with apparent mol.wt. of 102000, the same as human C2. It is cleaved by C1s to yield fragments C2a (apparent molwt. 74000) and C2b (apparent mol.wt. 34000). The amino acid composition and N-terminal sequences of these fragments are similar to those of human C2a and C2b. Human and guinea-pig C2 show more extensive sequence homology to Factor B than previously identified. The known homology around the sites of cleavage by C1s and Factor D has now been extended by a stretch of ten identical or conservatively substituted residues. Sequence homology has now been identified at the N-terminal of C2b and Factor Ba. The properties of the classical-pathway C3 convertases assembled from human C4b, C1s and human or guinea-pig C2 have been compared. The rates of cleavage of human and guinea-pig C2 by C1s (and therefore the rates of assembly of the C3 convertases) are similar. The rate of decay of the activity of the C3 convertase formed from guinea-pig C2 is 10-fold lower than for human C2. This greater stability reflects a higher affinity of guinea-pig C2a for human C4b. The presence of C2b is not necessary for C3 convertase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Role of immunoglobulins in the activation of complement].

Depending on their class and sub-class, immunoglobulins may activate the complement by the classical pathway or by the alternative pathway. This activating property depends on how immunoglobulins are associated. Activation by the classical pathway implies binding to, and activation of C1. Binding is essentially an ion type interaction between C1q and--in the case of human IgG's for instance--the C gamma 2 domain. It has recently been investigated in depth by various techniques, such as inhibition of the C1q--IgG interaction by chemical compounds or by peptides isolated from C gamma 2. Activation of C1 seems to involve some elements of C gamma 3. In addition to initiating the classical pathway, immunoglobulins may act as acceptors of the classical C3-convertase (C4b C2a); a structure accepting the newly formed C4b is present in the Fab portion of IgG. It would appear that optimal functioning of the complement system is achieved when the C1 activating site and the C3-convertase forming site are close together on the IgG molecule, since the newly born peptidic fragments have a very short life. Immunoglobulins may activate the alternative pathway via their Fab portion. This property is directly related to the ability of Ig's to accept nascent C3b, which probably includes that of accepting nascent C4b as described above. In the alternative pathway C3-convertase may form when structural conditions around IgG-bound C3b encourage binding of B to C3b rather than the intervention of I and H factors which degrade C3b. The Ig-C3b interaction responsible for activation of the alternative pathway may also be directly involved in solubilization of immune complexes during activation of complement.

Animals↗

[Genetic polymorphism of the second component of human complement (C2) in the Han Nationality in Wuhan district of China].

A total number of 231 unrelated Chinese (Han Nationality) were investigated for C2 polymorphism by hemolytic overlay technique after polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing on plasmas. The following phenotype distributions were observed: C2C, 216; C2BC, 9; C2AC, 5; and C2A, 1. The gene frequencies calculated from these phenotypes were as follows: C2*A, 0.015; C2*B, 0.019; C2*C, 0.965. The C2 phenotypic frequency distributions were in agreement with those expected from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

China↗

The effects of iodine and thiol-blocking reagents on complement component C2 and on the assembly of the classical-pathway C3 convertase.

I2 can react with complement component C2 in a two-stage process. In the first stage, a form of C2 with enhanced haemolytic activity is produced. This form of C2 is cleaved to C2a and C2b by C1s at the same rate as native C2. The enhanced C2 haemolytic activity correlates with the ability to form a stable fluid-phase C3 convertase on addition of the C2 to C4b and C1s. It reflects an increased affinity for C4b of C2a formed from I2-treated C2, although the affinity for C4b of I2-treated C2 itself is not markedly increased. The specific activity of C3 convertase formed from I2-treated C2 is the same as that formed from native C2. The second stage of the reaction with I2, which is favoured at high pH or in the presence of excess I2, inactivates C2 on production of a species that cannot be cleaved by C1s. The presence of a single free thiol group in C2, which is the site of modification by I2, was confirmed by titration with p-chloromercuribenzoate, iodoacetamide and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). A single thiol group is also present in Factor B, and the cysteine residue, like that in C2, requires denaturation of the protein before reaction with iodoacetamide and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) but not p-chloro- mercuribenzoate .

Chloromercuribenzoates↗