| Range |
diameter 10: length 15 nm
|
| Organism |
Unspecified |
| Reference |
Kenneth M. Murphy, Paul Travers, Mark Walport, Janeway's Immunobiology, 7th edition 2008 Garland Science p.77 Fig. 2.41 bottom right-hand corner |
| Primary Source |
Bhakdi S, Tranum-Jensen J. Complement lysis: a hole is a hole. Immunol Today. 1991 Sep12(9):318-20 discussion 321.PubMed ID1721819
|
| Comments |
P.75 bottom paragraph: "2-21 The terminal complement proteins polymerize to form pores in membranes that can kill certain pathogens. One of the important effects of complement activation is the assembly of the terminal components of complement (Fig. 2.40) to form a membrane-attack complex. The reactions leading to the formation of this complex are shown schematically and microscopically in Fig. 2.41. The end result is a pore in the lipid bilayer membrane that destroys membrane integrity. This is thought to kill the pathogen by destroying the proton gradient across the pathogen’s cell membrane." The pore allows the free flow of solutes, disrupting the proton gradient across the membrane and allowing the penetration of proteins such as lysozymes into the pathogen cell |
| Entered by |
Uri M |
| ID |
103573 |