This project focuses on molecular aspects of the assembly, function and regulation of human C5b-9, the cytolytic complex of complement proteins C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9. Emphasis will be on characterizing the structure and function of human C8 (HuC8) as to understand the biological significance of its peculiar structure, identify domains involved in interactions that occur during C5b-9 assembly, determine the role of cysteine- rich modules in mediating these interactions, identify a structural basis for the species-selective recognition of C8 by the C5b-9-regulatory protein CD59, gain insight into hereditary C8 deficiencies and facilitate the design of C8 analogues that might have therapeutic value as cytolytic agents.
Specific Aim 1 is to map domains within HuC8 that are involved in interactions between C5b- 7 and C8-beta, C8-beta and C8-alpha, C8- alpha and C8-gamma, and C8-alpha and C9. Fragments of HuC8-alpha and C8- beta produced by recombinant DNA expression will be tested for their ability to inhibit these interactions.
Specific Aim 2 is to determine the 3-D structure of HuC8-gamma through crystallographic analyses and to characterize its hydrophobic ligand binding properties which are characteristic of the alpha-2u-globulin (lipocalin) family of proteins to which it belongs.
Specific Aim 3 focuses on the mechanism by which human cells are protected from damage by human C5b-9, i.e. the mechanism of homologous restriction of cell lysis. Structural determinants in HuC8-alpha that are recognized in a species-dependent manner by HuCD59 will be localized and fine-mapped. Fragments from human and rabbit C8-alpha will be compared to identify those that interact with HuCD59 in a species-dependent manner.
Specific Aim 4 is to identify the basis of C8 deficiency in the rabbit. What was initially believed to be a C8-alpha/gamma deficiency now appears to be a combined C8-alpha/gamma, C8-beta deficiency analogous to that reported in humans. Experiments will examine the importance of amino acids substitutions already detected in rabbit C8D-alpha and search for additional substitutions in C8D-beta. Such experiments could identify residues critical for C8 subunit interaction and provide insight into the defect in HuC8-alpha/gamma deficiency.
Specific Aim 5 is to determine the intergenic distance between HuC8-alpha and C8- beta loci and their orientation using exon-specific probes and PFGE analysis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01GM042898-06
Application #
2181722
Study Section
Immunological Sciences Study Section (IMS)
Project Start
1989-09-01
Project End
1998-08-31
Budget Start
1994-09-01
Budget End
1995-08-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
111310249
City
Columbia
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29208
Weiland, Mitch H; Qian, Yu; Sodetz, James M (2014) Membrane pore formation by human complement: functional importance of the transmembrane ?-hairpin (TMH) segments of C8? and C9. Mol Immunol 57:310-6
Lovelace, Leslie L; Cooper, Christopher L; Sodetz, James M et al. (2011) Structure of human C8 protein provides mechanistic insight into membrane pore formation by complement. J Biol Chem 286:17585-92
Lovelace, Leslie L; Chiswell, Brian; Slade, Daniel J et al. (2008) Crystal structure of complement protein C8gamma in complex with a peptide containing the C8gamma binding site on C8alpha: implications for C8gamma ligand binding. Mol Immunol 45:750-6
Slade, Daniel J; Lovelace, Leslie L; Chruszcz, Maksymilian et al. (2008) Crystal structure of the MACPF domain of human complement protein C8 alpha in complex with the C8 gamma subunit. J Mol Biol 379:331-42
Chiswell, Brian; Lovelace, Leslie L; Brannen, Charity et al. (2007) Structural features of the ligand binding site on human complement protein C8gamma: a member of the lipocalin family. Biochim Biophys Acta 1774:637-44
Brannen, Charity L; Sodetz, James M (2007) Incorporation of human complement C8 into the membrane attack complex is mediated by a binding site located within the C8beta MACPF domain. Mol Immunol 44:960-5
Slade, Daniel J; Chiswell, Brian; Sodetz, James M (2006) Functional studies of the MACPF domain of human complement protein C8alpha reveal sites for simultaneous binding of C8beta, C8gamma, and C9. Biochemistry 45:5290-6
Chiswell, Brian; Slade, Daniel J; Sodetz, James M (2006) Binding of the lipocalin C8gamma to human complement protein C8alpha is mediated by loops located at the entrance to the C8gamma ligand binding site. Biochim Biophys Acta 1764:1518-24
Ortlund, Eric; LaCount, Michael W; Lebioda, Lukasz (2003) Crystal structures of human prostatic acid phosphatase in complex with a phosphate ion and alpha-benzylaminobenzylphosphonic acid update the mechanistic picture and offer new insights into inhibitor design. Biochemistry 42:383-9
Ortlund, Eric; Parker, Chasta L; Schreck, Steven F et al. (2002) Crystal structure of human complement protein C8gamma at 1.2 A resolution reveals a lipocalin fold and a distinct ligand binding site. Biochemistry 41:7030-7

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