C1q associates with the proenzymes C1r and C1s to yield C1, the first component of the serum complement system. The collagen-like regions of C1q interact with the Ca(2+)-dependent C1r(2)C1s(2) proenzyme complex, and efficient activation of C1 takes place on interaction of the globular heads of C1q with the Fc regions of IgG or IgM antibody present in immune complexes.
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Rat Complement C1q subcomponent subunit C
C1 is a calcium-dependent trimolecular complex of C1q, C1r and C1s in the molar ration of 1:2:2. C1q subcomponent is composed of nine subunits, six of which are disulfide-linked dimers of the a and B chains, and three of which are disulfide-linked dimers of the C chain. In addition to the major A:B and C:C dimer bands, rat, unlike human C1q, contained minor dimer species.