[Changes in the ultrastructure of subcomponent C1q of human complement during spontaneous inactivation in diluted...

Dilution of human serum or solutions of highly purified subcomponent C1q of human complement results in the drop of C1q activity. Electron microscopy of highly purified subcomponent C1q revealed that a certain part of molecules has a changed ultrastructure and C1q subunits are dissociated. As the preparations for electron microscopy have been obtained from dilute solutions, the changes in the ultrastructure and C1q inactivation should be interrelated phenomena. The conformational liability of the C1q structure is supposed to have a functional role.