C3/C3c Antibody (Monoclonal)

The human complement component C3 consists of two disulfide bonded subunits (Alpha 115,000 kD and Beta 75,000 kD) . The concentration of C3 in serum is approximately 1.25 +/– 0.52 mg/ml. Under normal conditions, activation of either of the complement pathways leads to C3 convertases, which cleave C3 into two fragments C3a, an anaphylatoxin, and C3b. The C3b fragment has many biologic functions including promotion of phagocytosis and participation as a structural component of both the C3 and C5 convertase enzymes. These processes are under stringent control in vivo. One control mechanism involves a two-site cleavage of C3b by Factor I with the cooperation of Factor H or CR1 as cofactors. When cleaved in this way the biologic functions of C3b are lost. The resulting protein is termed iC3b. iC3b can remain covalently bound to a target cell or bind CR3 receptors. It can be further broken down to C3c and C3d, g. 1 Quidel’s monoclonal antibodies to complement antigens were prepared using standard techniques. They are purified from mouse ascites fluid via protein A affinity chromatography. Quidel’s Monoclonal anti human C3c was raised against highly pure, human C3 using standard techniques. The specificity of the monoclonal antibody was established via a series of immunoassays utilizing highly purified C3 and C3 fragments. Firstly, the antibody was shown by ELISA to bind to purified C3, iC3b and C3c immobilized in microtiter wells, but not other complement proteins nor C3 fragments. Secondly, free (unbound) C3, iC3b, C3c and human serum but not other C3 fragments were shown (via inhibition EIA) to inhibit the binding of this antibody to immobilized C3.

This monoclonal antibody was raised against purified human C3. It is specific for an antigen expressed on the C3c domain of C3 and therefore reactive to C3 and all C3c-containing fragments of C3.