C1q is a 460 kDa protein formed from 18 peptide chains in 3 subunits of 6. Each 6 peptide subunit consists of a Y-shaped pair of triple peptide helices joined at the stem and ending in a globular non-helical head.
The 80-amino acid helical component of each triple peptide contain many Gly-X-Y sequences, where X and Y are proline, isoleucine, or hydroxylysine; they, therefore, strongly resemble collagenfibrils.
C1q chains A, B and C
C1q is composed of 18 polypeptide chains: six A-chains, six B-chains, and six C-chains. Each chain contains a collagen-like region located near the N terminus and a C-terminal globular region. The A-, B-, and C-chains are arranged in the order A-C-B on chromosome 1.[1]
Domain
The C1q domain is a conserved protein domain. C1q is a subunit of the C1 enzymecomplex that activates the serumcomplement system. C1q comprises 6 A, 6 B and 6 C chains. These share the same topology, each possessing a small, globular N-terminal domain, a collagen-like Gly/Pro-rich central region, and a conserved C-terminal region, the C1q domain.[2] The C1q protein is produced in collagen-producing cells and shows sequence and structural similarity to collagens VIII and X.[3][4]
Function
The classical and alternative complement pathways. C1q is the orange part of the C1 complex at the top of the image.
It is assumed that the globular ends are the sites for multivalent attachment to the complement fixing sites in immune complexed immunoglobulin. Patients with Lupus erythematosus often have deficient expression of C1q. Genetic deficiency of C1q is extremely rare (approximately 75 known cases) although the majority (>90%) of those have SLE.[5]
It is potentially multivalent for attachment to the complement fixation sites of immunoglobulin.
The sites are on the CH2 domain of IgG and, it is thought, on the CH4 domain of IgM. IgG4 cannot bind C1q, but the other three IgG subclasses can.
The appropriate peptide sequence of the complement fixing site might become exposed following complexing of the immunoglobulin, or the sites might always be available, but might require multiple attachment by C1q with critical geometry in order to achieve the necessary avidity.
^Petry F, Reid KB, Loos M (November 1989). "Molecular cloning and characterization of the complementary DNA coding for the B-chain of murine Clq". FEBS Lett. 258 (1): 89–93. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(89)81622-9. PMID2591537. S2CID44986344.
