C3 requirements for formation of alternative pathway C5 convertase.

Although alternative pathway C3 and C5 convertases both have active proteolytic sites dependent on the same protein, Bb, the quantitative requirements for the expression of these activities are sufficiently different to permit their delineation in terms of B input an cell-bound C3b. That the labile component of each active site is Bb was established by their parallel decay rates, regeneration of the original specificities with B in the presence of D, and stabilization of each convertase by C3NeF. The evidence that the spatial relationships of Bb and C3b on the cell surface for C3 and C5 convertase activities are distinct is based not only upon the decay and regeneration of each original convertase but more so upon their interconversion. C3 convertase is converted to C5 convertase by interaction with additional C3 whereas C5 convertase reverts to a C3 convertase by treatment with C3 INA. The capacity of C3 INA treatment to abolish C5 convertase sites without affecting C3 convertase sites indicates the existence of two functional species of C3b, one of which is protected in the C3bBb complex whereas the other is exposed.