C1s

C1s (pronounced "see-one-ess") is a Serine protease that is part of the Complement system, a component of the Immune system. It is encoded by the C1S gene in humans.

Etymology

The term "C1s" is derived from the Complement system nomenclature. The "C" stands for "complement", while the "1" denotes the component number in the system, and the "s" stands for Serine protease, the type of enzyme it is.

Function

C1s is a crucial part of the Complement system, which helps or “complements” the ability of Antibodies and Phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism. It is involved in the Classical pathway of the complement system, where it cleaves C4 and C2 proteins, leading to the activation of the pathway.

Related Terms

• Complement system
• Serine protease
• Immune system
• Antibodies
• Phagocytic cells
• Classical pathway
• C4
• C2

See Also

• C1r
• C1-inhibitor
• C1q

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