Description
Product Characteristics: Complement component 4 is a protein involved in the complement system. It is cleaved into proteins 4a and 4b. C4a is an anaphylatoxin, C4b forms part of C3-convertase, in conjunction with 2a, C4b can bind CR1, and C4d is the final proteolytic remnant of deposited C4b on endothelium, remains covalently attached to endothelium for little more than a week and easily detectable by antibody staining. Synonyms: Monoclonal Complement C4 antibody, Anti-Complement C4 antibody, C4 antibody.
Target Information: This gene encodes the basic form of complement factor 4, part of the classical activation pathway. The protein is expressed as a single chain precursor which is proteolytically cleaved into a trimer of alpha, beta, and gamma chains prior to secretion. The trimer provides a surface for interaction between the antigen-antibody complex and other complement components. The alpha chain may be cleaved to release C4 anaphylatoxin, a mediator of local inflammation. Deficiency of this protein is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. This gene localizes to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III region on chromosome 6. Varying haplotypes of this gene cluster exist, such that individuals may have 1, 2, or 3 copies of this gene. In addition, this gene exists as a long form and a short form due to the presence or absence of a 6.4 kb endogenous HERV-K retrovirus in intron 9. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]