Decay-accelerating factor
Decay-accelerating factor
Decay-accelerating factor (pronounced: de-kay ak-sel-er-ating fak-tor), also known as DAF or CD55 (pronounced: see-dee-fifty-five), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD55 gene.
Etymology
The term "decay-accelerating factor" is derived from the protein's function. It accelerates the decay of complement convertases, which are enzyme complexes that play a crucial role in the immune system's response to infection.
Function
Decay-accelerating factor is a protein that is attached to the membranes of cells. It protects cells from damage by the complement system, a part of the immune system that can destroy cells and microbes that are recognized as foreign. DAF does this by disrupting the formation of the C3 convertase and C5 convertase enzyme complexes, thereby accelerating their decay.
Related Terms
- Complement system: A part of the immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism, promotes inflammation, and attacks the pathogen's cell membrane.
- C3 convertase: An enzyme complex that plays a central role in the activation of the complement system.
- C5 convertase: An enzyme complex that plays a crucial role in the late stages of the complement system activation pathway.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Decay-accelerating factor
- Wikipedia's article - Decay-accelerating factor
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