Question

What is the difference between MBL and ficolins in terms of their structure and function?

A) MBL is a protein involved in the lectin pathway of the complement system, while ficolins are part of the alternative pathway.

B) MBL recognizes mannose residues, whereas ficolins primarily bind to acetyl groups on microbial surfaces.

C) MBL is a pentamer with collagen-like regions, while ficolins are trimeric with fibrinogen-like domains.

D) MBL activates the classical pathway, whereas ficolins initiate the lectin pathway.

Answer 1

MBL is involved in the lectin pathway and recognizes mannose residues, while ficolins bind to acetyl groups on microbial surfaces. MBL is a pentamer with collagen-like regions, while ficolins are trimeric with fibrinogen-like domains. MBL activates the lectin pathway, while ficolins initiate it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between MBL and ficolins in terms of their structure and function is as follows:

MBL is a protein involved in the lectin pathway of the complement system, while ficolins are also part of this pathway but have a different role. MBL recognizes mannose residues on microbial surfaces, while ficolins primarily bind to acetyl groups on those surfaces.

MBL is a pentamer with collagen-like regions, while ficolins are trimeric with fibrinogen-like domains. These structural differences contribute to their ability to bind to different molecules on pathogens.

Finally, MBL activates the lectin pathway of the complement system, while ficolins also play a role in initiating this pathway, but they do not directly activate it.