The disulfide bridges of human complement component C3b, derived from C3 by removal of the 77-residue C3a, have been determined. The 10 bridges are Cys537-Cys794, Cys605-Cys640, Cys851-Cys1491, Cys1079-Cys1136, Cys1336-Cys1467, Cys1367-Cys1436, Cys1484-Cys1489, Cys1496-Cys1568, Cys1515-Cys1639, and Cys1615-Cys1624. Including the 3 bridges in C3a (Cys670-Cys698, Cys672-Cys705, and Cys685-Cys706)...

Using antibodies isolated from glomeruli of nephritic rats we have previously identified a 330-kDa cell surface glycoprotein (gp330) as a major pathogenic antigen of Heymann nephritis (HN), an experimental model of human membranous glomerulonephritis. Recently, we have isolated a cDNA clone, C14, encoding a polypeptide that contains a pathogenic epitope of HN responsible for the initiation of t...

Alfimeprase is a recombinantly produced, truncated form of fibrolase, a known directly fibrinolytic zinc metalloproteinase that was first isolated from the venom of the southern copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix). Both fibrolase and alfimeprase have been shown to have direct proteolytic activity against the fibrinogen Aalpha chain. In vivo pharmacology studies have shown that ...

GRP94(gp96) elicits CD8(+) T cell responses against its bound peptides, a process requiring access of its associated peptides into the MHC class I cross-presentation pathway of APCs. Entry into this pathway requires receptor-mediated endocytosis, and CD91 (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein) has been reported to be the receptor mediating GRP94 uptake into APC. However, a direct ro...

The detection of an inherited X-linked serum system in man, disclosed by a heteroantisenim made specific by absorption, is described. These studies suggest that the antigen, demonstrated by the specific antiserum, resides in the alpha(2)-macroglobulin fraction of serum. The system has been named the Xm system, where X refers to the localization of the gene on the X chromosome, and the m indicat...