- Source: Limulus clotting factor C
Limulus clotting factor overbar C (EC 3.4.21.84, factor C, limulus factor C) is an enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction
Selective cleavage of -Arg103-Ser- and -Ile124-Ile- bonds in limulus clotting factor B to form factor overbar B.
Cleavage of -Pro-Arg- bonds in synthetic substrates
This enzyme is isolated from the hemocyte granules of the horseshoe crabs Limulus and Tachypleus, where it serves as a LPS endotoxin-sensitive trypsin type serine protease to protect the organism from bacterial infection, initiating a cascade leading to coagulin formation. From the N-terminus to the C-terminus, the domains are:
EGF-like domain
3 Sushi domains
one LCCL domain and one C-type lectin domain
2 more Sushi domains
a trypsin domain
This enzyme is useful in Limulus amebocyte lysate as the endotoxin-detecting element. It can be produced recombinantly.
References
External links
Limulus+clotting+factor+_overbar_C_ at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)