Protein May Predict Heart Attack And Early Death, Not Stroke Oct 20, 2009
17, 2005) High levels of a blood protein called mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are associated with lower risk of heart attack, particularly among diabetics, report Saevardottir and colleagues. They suggest that. (Science Daily)
Piece from childhood virus may save soldiers' lives Sep 6, 2009
The presentation in Hungary, "Human Astrovirus Coat Protein Binds C1q and MBL and Inhibits the Classical and Lectin Pathways of Complement Activation," highlights not only the discovery, but research published in Current Topics in Complement II and the Journal of Virology, describing precisely how this tiny piece of protein halts the complement cascade in its tracks. . (EurekAlert!)
Immunodeficiency Associated with FCN3 Mutation and Ficolin-3 Deficiency Jun 18, 2009
Ficolin-3, encoded by the FCN3 gene and expressed in the lung and liver, is a recognition molecule in the lectin pathway of the complement system. Heterozygosity for an FCN3 frameshift mutation (rs28357092), leading to a distortion of the C-terminal end of the molecule, occurs in people without disease (allele frequency among whites, 0. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Protein from algae shows promise for stopping SARS May 21, 2009
But GRFT, a lectin protein derived from algae, offers anew possible hope. GRFT is thought to exert its anti-viral effects by altering the shape of the sugar molecules that line the virus' envelope, allowing it to attach to and invade human cells, where it takes over the cells' reproductive machinery to replicate itself. (Xinhuanet, China)
