Scientists Reveal the Detailed Structure of Protein C4BP for Pharmaceutical Transport

 

 

Protein C4BP, the complement component 4 binding protein, is a part of our innate immune system which serves as the first countermeasures against invading pathogens. It could defend against bacterial in the blood.

But in order to find reveal how exactly the protein acts on other molecules, scientists keep tight eyes on its spatial structure.

They examined the substance in its purest form with x-ray machines and are able to reconstruct the spatial design in a computer. Regarding the case of the recently-described C4BP, they found out that it has eight "arms" and thus resembles a spider to a certain degree. Seven of the "arms" are identical as "alpha chains," while the eighth, a "beta chain" is different from the others. The spider body that holds these side chains together is called the oligomerisation domain. Its structure determines the spatial alignment of the “arms”.

The finding could benefit the biochemical synthesis of the molecule. Its oligomerisation domain can be used as a framework to decorate it with drug molecules, for vaccine, for example, in other words, it can be used as a scaffold for the transport of active pharmaceutical substances.

 

Article Link:Scientists Reveal the Detailed Structure of Protein C4BP for Pharmaceutical Transport