Binding Of C4b-binding Protein Research Articles

A protein S binding site on C4b-binding protein involves beta chain residues 31-45.

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) down-regulates the anticoagulant cofactor activity of protein S in the protein C pathway since free protein S but not the protein S:C4BP complex is anticoagulantly active. To identify beta chain residues responsible for binding protein S, synthetic overlapping pentadecapeptides covering the entire 1-235 sequence were tested as inhibitors of complex formation. The peptide comprising residues 31-45 (VCIKGYHLVGKKTLF) from the first short consensus repeat domain inhibited the binding of C4BP to protein S with half-maximal inhibition at 20-45 microM, and studies suggested the sequence of YxLVG was crucial. Peptide beta(31-45) specifically inhibited the APC cofactor activity of purified protein S in Xa-1-stage coagulation assays with 50% inhibition at 15 microM peptide. Peptide beta(31-45) and related peptides such as beta(34-42) inhibited the binding of protein S to an antipeptide monoclonal antibody made against residues 420-434 of protein S (monoclonal antibody LJ-56). Polyclonal anti-beta(31-45) peptide antibodies inhibited complex formation. Dose-dependent binding studies showed that protein S bound directly to immobilized peptide beta(31-45). These results show that residues 31-45 of the C4BP beta chain provide a binding site for protein S, and they suggest that the C4BP beta chain residues 34-42 are located near residues 420-434 of protein S in the protein S:C4BP complex.

A C5a receptor fragment that can induce programmed cell death

Disruption of the thiolester in native C4 yields a ‘C4b-like C4’ molecule (iC4) that functionally resembles C4b and is therefore probably accompanied by conformational changes in the C4 molecule. In most purified C4 preparations, iC4 and C4b are present to a variable extent. In this study we evaluated the use of fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) to resolve and isolate these various forms of C4. C4 was purified from fresh human plasma in a 4-step procedure that included barium citrate adsorption, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) precipitation, Q-Sepharose Fast Flow and mono Q ion exchange chromatography. The final preparation appeared to be homogeneous on SDS-PAGE and under reducing conditions consisted of three bands that corresponded to the intact α, β and γ chains of C4. In some preparations the α′ chain of C4b was also observed. On a Mono Q column the purified C4 preparations could be separated into three peaks that by hemolytic assay and SDS-PAGE were characterized as representing native C4, and monomeric and dimeric iC4 (or monomeric and dimeric C4b). Finally, the apparent KA of the various forms of C4 for C4b-binding protein (C4BP) was investigated. The monomeric iC4 and C4b species demonstrated similar C4BP binding affinity with an apparent KA of 5.6–6.4 × 108 M−1, whereas their dimeric forms demonstrated a higher affinity for C4BP with an apparent KA: 0.9–2.3 × 109 M−1. Binding of native C4 to C4BP was undetectable.

Protein S enhances C4b binding protein interaction with neutrophils

Protein S, an inhibitor of coagulation, interacts reversibly with C4b binding protein (C4bBP). The physiologic role of this complex formation remains unknown. In this study we examined the possibility that protein S would facilitate C4bBP binding to the surface of neutrophils where, in turn, this complex could help protect the cell from complement- mediated damage at the site of inflammation. Neutrophils bind approximately 60,000 protein S molecules per cell (kd = 140 nmol/L) in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. C4bBP also binds to neutrophils (23,000 sites per cell at physiologic C4bBP concentration), but this binding is not Ca2+ dependent. Protein S approximately doubled C4bBP binding, but protein S only influenced C4bBP binding in the presence of Ca2+. Protein S binding to neutrophils decreased approximately twofold in the presence of saturating concentrations of C4bBP. Neutrophil activation had only minor effects on the affinity and number of sites for protein S or the protein S-C4bBP complex. These results indicate that the protein S-C4bBP complex binds to the neutrophil surface where it can presumably modulate complement assembly on the cell surface.

Protein S Enhances C4b Binding Protein Interaction With Neutrophils

AbstractProtein S, an inhibitor of coagulation, interacts reversibly with C4b binding protein (C4bBP). The physiologic role of this complex formation remains unknown. In this study we examined the possibility that protein S would facilitate C4bBP binding to the surface of neutrophils where, in turn, this complex could help protect the cell from complement-mediated damage at the site of inflammation. Neutrophils bind approximately 60,000 protein S molecules per cell (kd = 140 nmol/L) in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. C4bBP also binds to neutrophils (23,000 sites per cell at physiologic C4bBP concentration), but this binding is not Ca2+ dependent. Protein S approximately doubled C4bBP binding, but protein S only influenced C4bBP binding in the presence of Ca2+. Protein S binding to neutrophils decreased approximately twofold in the presence of saturating concentrations of C4bBP. Neutrophil activation had only minor effects on the affinity and number of sites for protein S or the protein S–C4bBP complex. These results indicate that the protein S–C4bBP complex binds to the neutrophil surface where it can presumably modulate complement assembly on the cell surface.

Separation of different forms of the fourth component of human complement by fast protein liquid chromatography

Disruption of the thiolester in native C4 yields a ‘C4b-like C4’ molecule (iC4) that functionally resembles C4b and is therefore probably accompanied by conformational changes in the C4 molecule. In most purified C4 preparations, iC4 and C4b are present to a variable extent. In this study we evaluated the use of fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) to resolve and isolate these various forms of C4. C4 was purified from fresh human plasma in a 4-step procedure that included barium citrate adsorption, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) precipitation, Q-Sepharose Fast Flow and mono Q ion exchange chromatography. The final preparation appeared to be homogeneous on SDS-PAGE and under reducing conditions consisted of three bands that corresponded to the intact α, β and γ chains of C4. In some preparations the α′ chain of C4b was also observed. On a Mono Q column the purified C4 preparations could be separated into three peaks that by hemolytic assay and SDS-PAGE were characterized as representing native C4, and monomeric and dimeric iC4 (or monomeric and dimeric C4b). Finally, the apparent K A of the various forms of C4 for C4b-binding protein (C4BP) was investigated. The monomeric iC4 and C4b species demonstrated similar C4BP binding affinity with an apparent K A of 5.6–6.4 × 10 8 M −1, whereas their dimeric forms demonstrated a higher affinity for C4BP with an apparent K A: 0.9–2.3 × 10 9 M −1. Binding of native C4 to C4BP was undetectable.

Binding of protein S to C4b-binding protein. Mutagenesis of protein S.

Protein S and C4b-binding protein (C4BP) form a tight complex (Kd approximately 0.6 nM) the physiologic purpose of which is unknown. The participation of protein S in this complex was investigated using site-specific mutagenesis. Normal recombinant human protein S (rHPS) and five specifically mutated protein S analogs were expressed in transformed human kidney 293 cells and the following properties were characterized: solution-phase C4BP binding, ability to be cleaved by thrombin, ability to act as a cofactor in the activated protein C-catalyzed inactivation of factor Va, and gamma-carboxyglutamic acid content. In some cases, beta-hydroxyaspartic acid plus beta-hydroxyasparagine content was also determined. Binding studies indicated that while clearly important for a high affinity interaction, the amino acid sequence Gly605-Ile614 identified by Walker (Walker, F J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 17645-17648) does not account for all the binding energy of the HPS-C4BP interaction. All mutants perturbed in this region or lacking it altogether displayed reduced C4BP binding, and some retained anticoagulant cofactor function. Neither human factor X nor human steroid-binding protein had any measurable ability to compete with plasma HPS for C4BP binding. Furthermore, bovine protein S and a rHPS analog with bovine sequence from Gly597-Trp629 bound to human C4BP with the same affinity as did HPS, and both proteins substituted effectively for HPS as a cofactor for activated protein C in an otherwise human anticoagulation system. Together these results suggest that optimal binding of protein S to C4BP requires the putative alpha-helix Gly605-Ile614, as well as other undetermined regions of protein S, and that the regions of HPS responsible for C4BP binding and activated protein C cofactor function are structurally isolated.

Beta-Hydroxyaspartic acid and beta-hydroxyasparagine residues in recombinant human protein S are not required for anticoagulant cofactor activity or for binding to C4b-binding protein.

Among the vitamin K-dependent plasma proteins, only protein S contains the post-translationally modified amino acid erythro-beta-hydroxyasparagine (Hyn). Protein S also contains erythro-beta-hydroxyaspartic acid (Hya). The function of these unusual amino acids, located in the epidermal growth factor-like domains, is unknown. To determine if these post-translational modifications contribute to the functional integrity of human protein S (HPS), recombinant human protein S lacking Hya and Hyn (rHPSdesHya/Hyn) was purified from the medium of human kidney 293 cells that were transfected with HPS cDNA and grown in the presence of the hydroxylase inhibitor 2,2'-dipyridyl. Solution-phase equilibrium binding studies revealed that rHPSdesHya/Hyn binds C4b-binding protein (C4BP) in a manner indistinguishable from recombinant HPS and plasma-derived HPS, exhibiting a Kd in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 of approximately 0.7 nM and a Kd in the presence of 4 mM EDTA approximately 10-fold higher. In a purified component system, rHPSdesHya/Hyn displayed normal anticoagulant cofactor activity in the activated protein C-catalyzed inactivation of coagulation factor Va bound in the prothrombinase complex. In addition, digestion of rHPSdesHya/Hyn with thrombin in the presence of EDTA appeared normal, and 2 mM CaCl2 prevented the cleavage. Together these results suggest that the post-translational modifications of Asn and Asp residues are not necessary for the macromolecular or Ca2+ interactions associated with the anticoagulant and C4BP binding characteristics of HPS.

Structure‐function studies on human C4b‐binding protein using monoclonal antibodies

Human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is a multimeric regulatory complement component interacting with vitamin K-dependent protein S and complement C4b. Using hybridoma technology, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for intact human C4BP and its 160-kDa chymotryptic central core fragment were prepared to study the structure-function relationships of C4BP. By Western blot analysis and competition experiments, four distinct groups of mAb were identified and mapped on the C4BP molecule. By rotary shadowing, spider-like images of C4BP-antibody complexes were obtained and immunoelectron microscopy provided some information on the stoichiometry of the antibody-C4BP interaction. Certain antibodies interacted with C4BP molecules only at a ratio of 1:1. Others formed complexes of two or more antibodies bound to homologous sites on the C4BP molecule. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent sandwich assay for the measurement of the complex formation between protein S and C4BP, mAb against the central core and the disulfide-linked beta chain of C4BP were identified that inhibited the binding of protein S to C4BP. In a binding assay using 125I-labeled C4BP and solid-phase C4b, the inhibitory effect of one group of anti-C4BP mAb on the binding of C4BP to C4b was demonstrated.