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. 1978 Nov;75(11):5655–5659. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.11.5655

Molecular nature of the complement lesion.

S Bhakdi, J Tranum-Jensen
PMCID: PMC393026  PMID: 281714

Abstract

The principle molecular event leading to membrane perturbation by complement is the assembly of the terminal five serum complement components (C5b-C9) into a macromolecular C5b-9 complex on the target membrane [Müller-Eberhard, H.-J. (1975) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 44, 697--723]. The present communication reports on the ability of purified C5b-9 complexes isolated from target membranes to become reincorporated into artificial lipid vesicles. The data indicate that the complex is a vertically oriented, hollow, cylindrical macromolecule possessing lipid-binding regions that enable one terminus to penetrate into the lipid bilayer. A transmembrane pore appears to be created at the attachment site of the C5b-9 complex.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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