Rabbit polyclonal antibody to MASP~1 LC (I449)

Mannose (or mannan)~binding lectin (MBL), also known as serum mannosebinding protein (MBP), initiates the lectin branch of the innate immune response by binding to the surface of potentially pathogenic microorganisms and initiating complement fixation through an N~terminal collagen~like domain. MBL is a key component in immune response in that it can directly trigger neutralization of invading microorganisms by an Ab~independent mechanism. Mutations of human MBL are associated with immunodeficiency resulting from a reduction in the ability of the mutant MBL to initiate complement fixation. In human, three types of MBL~associated serine proteases, MASP~1, MASP~2 and MASP~3, and a truncated form of MASP~2 (small MBL~associated protein; sMAP or MAp19) complex with MBL to activate the lectin pathway of the complement system. MASP~3 is an alternatively spliced product from the MASP~1 gene. The heavy/A chains are identical between MASP~1 and MASP~3 but the light/B chains are entirely different. Activated MASPs subsequently cleave and activate downstream components of the complement pathway.