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Related Concept Videos

Complement System01:27

Complement System

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The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a...
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Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are critical players in the immune system's arsenal against invading pathogens. Produced by B cells and plasma cells, their primary role is to detect and bind to specific antigens, molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Beyond antigen recognition, antibodies perform several vital functions that contribute to immune defense.
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Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
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Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

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Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
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Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

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The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
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What are Membranes?01:24

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Molecular cell biology of complement membrane attack.

B Paul Morgan1, Courtney Boyd2, Doryen Bubeck2

  • 1Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF144XN, UK.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|June 26, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The membrane attack complex (MAC) directly kills pathogens and activates host cells. New structural data helps explain how MAC functions in pathogen killing and cell modulation.

Keywords:
ComplementEvolutionMembrane attackPoreStructure-function

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The membrane attack complex (MAC) is a key component of the complement system, evolved early to directly kill pathogens.
  • MAC's role extends beyond pathogen lysis to initiating cell activation events impacting tissue homeostasis during infection or injury.
  • Despite a long history of study, precise mechanisms of MAC-mediated killing and cell activation remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key aspects of MAC evolution, function, and structure.
  • To utilize recent structural findings to elucidate MAC's mechanisms of action.
  • To provide a better understanding of how MAC kills bacteria and modulates host cell functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on MAC evolution, function, and structure.
  • Analysis of recent structural data on the membrane attack complex.
  • Integration of structural insights with existing knowledge of MAC-mediated activities.

Main Results:

  • Recent structural data offers new context for understanding MAC's pore-forming and cell-activating capabilities.
  • The review synthesizes information to propose refined explanations for MAC's dual roles.
  • New structural insights facilitate a re-assessment of MAC's pathogen-killing and cell modulation mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • The membrane attack complex (MAC) is a crucial effector of the complement system with dual roles in pathogen lysis and host cell activation.
  • Recent advancements in MAC structural biology provide a powerful lens to re-examine its functional mechanisms.
  • A deeper understanding of MAC structure is essential for clarifying its contributions to immunity and tissue homeostasis.