We have studied a family in which the proband had systemic lupus erythematosus and selective incomplete deficiency of the fourth component of complement (C4) (2-5% of the normal level). An additional six healthy family members also had low C4 levels (2.4-24.1% of normal) but no evidence of lupus. This form of inherited C4 deficiency differs from that in previously reported families in that inhe...

A phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the C3/C4/C5 complement-component family of vertebrates supported the hypothesis that the C5 gene diverged first from the common ancestor of C3 and C4 and that C3 and C4 diverged later. The close relationship of C3 and C4 was further supported by the fact that a hagfish complement-component gene showed evidence of being more closely related to both ...

The total synthesis and evaluation of a key systematic series of vinblastines that incorporate the first deep-seated changes to the substituent at C4 are detailed. The synthetic approach features an expanded and redefined scope of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition cascade in which electronically mismatched electron-deficient trisubstituted alkenes and unactivated trisubstituted a...

An hypothesis was formulated that phosphorus (P) partitioning in tissues of C4 leaves would permit C4 plants to resist P deficiency better than C3 plants. To test this hypothesis, 12 C3, C4, and C3-C4 intermediate species were grown at adequate, deficient, and severely deficient P supply in a solid-phase-buffered sand culture system to characterize photosynthetic and growth responses. Species d...

The complement system enhances antibody responses to T-dependent antigens, but paradoxically, deficiencies in C1 and C4 are strongly linked to autoantibody production in humans. In mice, disruption of the C1qa gene also results in spontaneous autoimmunity. Moreover, deficiencies in C4 or complement receptors 1 and 2 (CR1/CR2) lead to reduced selection against autoreactive B cells and impaired h...

UNLABELLED C4 photosynthesis is considered one of the most remarkable examples of evolutionary convergence in eukaryotes. However, it is unknown whether the evolution of C4 photosynthesis required the evolution of new genes. Genome-wide gene-tree species-tree reconciliation of seven monocot species that span two origins of C4 photosynthesis revealed that there was significant parallelism in the...

During C4 photosynthesis, CO2 is concentrated around the enzyme RuBisCO. The net effect is to reduce photorespiration while increasing water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Species that use C4 photosynthesis have evolved independently from their C3 ancestors on more than 60 occasions. Along with mimicry and the camera-like eye, the C4 pathway therefore represents a remarkable example of the repe...

The effect of 3,3-dichloro-2-(dihydroxyphosphinoylmethyl)propenoate (DCDP), an analog of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), on PEP carboxylase activity in crude leaf extracts and on photosynthesis of excised leaves was examined. DCDP is an effective inhibitor of PEP carboxylase from Zea mays or Pancum miliaceum; 50% inhibition was obtained at 70 or 350 micromolar, respectively, in the presence of I mil...