A study of a covalent-like interaction between soluble nascent C4b and C4-binding protein

In the classical pathway of complement, the interaction between C4b and C4bp can be considered as a control of the C3 convertase formation. Purified C4-binding protein (C4bp) interacts with soluble nascent C4b to form covalent-like complexes; the interaction is also possible with nascent C4b-like C4, but not with C4, C4b or C4b-like C4. Formation of the complexes upon incubation of C4bp, C4 and C1s appears to involve a single link between a subunit of C4bp and the alpha' chain of C4b, as observed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in reducing conditions (160 000 dalton band). In non-reducing conditions, a mixture of C4b-C4bp complexes is observed as a function of the C4b:C4bp molar ratio, with apparent molecular weights differing by a value of 210 000 and reflecting different C4b-C4bp associations. A maximum of five molecules of C4b are bound per molecule of C4bp, which appears to consist of 10 subunits of apparent molecular weight 72 000. The link between C4b and C4bp is partially destroyed by 1 M hydroxylamine at pH 9.0; its formation is strongly inhibited by 3.5 mM hydroxylamine or 60 mM methylamine at pH 9.0. These findings suggest an ester or amide bond between the activated carboxyl group of the thioester bridge in the alpha' or alpha chain of nascent C4b or C4b-like C4 and a hydroxyl or amino group of C4bp. Thus, C4bp might compete with other C4b acceptors such as membranes or IgG.