Freeze-fracture Analysis of the Membrane Lesion of Human Complement

Overview

Journal J Cell Biol

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 1983 Sep 1

PMID 6309866

Citations 5

Authors

J Tranum-Jensen

S Bhakdi

Affiliations

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Abstract

The structure and membrane insertion of the human C5b-9(m) complex, generated by lysis of antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes with whole human serum under conditions where high numbers of classical ring-shaped lesions form, were studied in single and complementary freeze-fracture replicas prepared by unidirectional and rotary shadowing. The intramembrane portion of the C5b-9(m) cylinder was seen on EF-faces as an elevated, circular structure. In nonetched fractures it appeared as a solid stub; in etched fractures a central pit confirmed the existence of a central, water-filled pore in the molecule. Complementary replicas showed that each EF-face ring corresponded to a hole in the lipid plateau of the PF-face. Etched fractures of proteolytically stripped membranes revealed the extramembrane annulus of the C5b-9(m) cylinder on ES-faces and putative internal openings on PS-faces. Allowing for the measured thickness of deposited Pt/C, the dimensions of EF-face rings and ES-face annuli conformed to anticipations derived from negatively stained preparations. Our results support the concept that the hollow cylindrical C5b-9(m) complex penetrates into the inner leaflet of the target erythrocyte membrane bilayer, forming a stable transmembrane protein channel.

Citing Articles

Isolation and identification of two hemolytic forms of streptolysin-O.

Bhakdi S, Roth M, Sziegoleit A, Tranum-Jensen J Infect Immun. 1984; 46(2):394-400.

PMID: 6500696 PMC: 261545. DOI: 10.1128/iai.46.2.394-400.1984.

Complement activation and attack on autologous cell membranes induced by streptolysin-O.

Bhakdi S, Tranum-Jensen J Infect Immun. 1985; 48(3):713-9.

PMID: 3997244 PMC: 261238. DOI: 10.1128/iai.48.3.713-719.1985.

Liver lesions in hepatitis B viral infection.

Desmet V Yale J Biol Med. 1988; 61(1):61-83.

PMID: 2834884 PMC: 2590411.

Pore formation by complement in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria studied with asymmetric planar lipopolysaccharide/phospholipid bilayers.

Schroder G, Brandenburg K, Brade L, Seydel U J Membr Biol. 1990; 118(2):161-70.

PMID: 2266547 DOI: 10.1007/BF01868473.

Complement pore genesis observed in erythrocyte membranes by fluorescence microscopic single-channel recording.

Sauer H, Pratsch L, Fritzsch G, Bhakdi S, Peters R Biochem J. 1991; 276 ( Pt 2):395-9.

PMID: 2049070 PMC: 1151104. DOI: 10.1042/bj2760395.

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