BIG MAC ATTACK - COMPLEMENT PROTEINS CAUSE LEAKY PATCHES

Although hemolysis of erythrocytes and killing of Gram-negative bacteria led to the discovery of the complement system more than one hundred years ago, the precise mechanism of complement-mediated cytotoxicity remains unresolved. Currently, there are two vying hypotheses: in one model, the polar domains of inserted complement proteins cause local distortion of the phospholipid bilayer, resulting in 'leaky patches'; the alternative, 'pore', model proposes that the polar surfaces of the individual complement components come together to form a hydrophilic channel through the membrane. Here, the relative merits and demerits of each proposal are discussed. © 1991.