Complement membrane attack complex



The membrane attack complex (MAC) is typically formed on the surface of intruding pathogenic bacterial cells as a result of the activation of the alternative pathway of the complement system, and it is one of the effector proteins of the immune system. The membrane-attack complex (MAC) forms transmembrane channels. These channels disrupt the phospholipid bilayer of target cells, leading to cell lysis and death.

A number of proteins participate in the assembly of the MAC. Freshly activated C5b binds to C6 to form a C5b-6 complex, then to C7 forming the C5b-7 complex. The C5b-7 complex binds to C8, which is composed of three chains (alpha, beta, and gamma), thus forming the C5b-8 complex. C5b-8 subsequently binds to C9  and acts as a catalyst in the polymerization of C9. Active MAC has a subunit composition of C5b-C6-C7-C8-C9{n}.

Structure and function
It is composed of a complex of four complement proteins (C5b, C6, C7, and C8) that bind to the outer surface of the plasma membrane, and many copies of a fifth protein (C9) that hookup to one another, forming a ring in the membrane. C6-C9 all contain a common MACPF domain. This region is homologous to cholesterol-dependent cytolysins from Gram-positive bacteria.

The ring structure formed by C9 is a pore in the membrane that allows free diffusion of molecules in and out of the cell. If enough pores form, the cell is no longer able to survive.

Initiation: C5-C7
The membrane attack complex is initiated when the complement protein C5 convertase cleaves C5 into C5a and C5b.

Another complement protein, C6, binds to C5b.

The C5bC6 complex is bound by C7.

This junction alters the configuration of the protein molecules exposing a hydrophobic site on C7 that allows the C7 to insert into the phospholipid bilayer of the pathogen.

Polymerization: C8-C9
Similar hydrophobic sites on C8 and C9 molecules are exposed when they bind to the complex, so they can also insert into the bilayer.

C8 is a complex made of the two proteins C8-beta and C8 alpha-gamma.

C8 alpha-gamma has the hydrophobic area that inserts into the bilayer. C8 alpha-gamma induces the polymerization of 10-16 molecules of C9 into a pore-forming structure known as the membrane attack complex.


 * It has a hydrophobic external face allowing it to associate with the lipid bilayer.


 * It has a hydrophilic internal face to allow the passage of water.

Inhibition
CD59 acts to inhibit the complex.