Figure 3. Uncleaved C3dg is elevated in hepatic cirrhosis.

Using pH 3–5.6 gels, complement C3 was identified in a feature at approximately pH 4.9, MWt 38 kDa, only in gels for cirrhotic plasma. The full length sequence of complement C3 is shown with the alpha chain underlined, beta chain in italics, C3dg in bold and identified peptides highlighted in grey. Highlighted in black is the thioester site which is known to be cleaved by the fibrinolytic enzyme plasmin.