What is the initial step in the activation of complement proteins?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the first step in the activation of complement proteins and presents multiple-choice options that relate to different mechanisms involved in this pathway.
Answer
The binding of C1q to pathogen surface is the initial step in complement activation.
The final answer is the binding of C1q to the surface of a pathogen.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is the binding of C1q to the surface of a pathogen.
More Information
Complement activation is crucial for immune defense, facilitating pathogen opsonization and lysis. C1q is the recognition subcomponent that, upon binding to the target, initiates the classical pathway.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the classical pathway with the lectin or alternative pathways. Each has different initiating complexes and recognition patterns.
Sources
- Physiology, Complement Cascade - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Complement Activation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Complement system - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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