How is complement activity destroyed in vitro?

How is complement activity destroyed in vitro?

• A. Heating serum at 56oC for 30 min
• B. Keeping serum at room temperature of 22oC for 1 hour
• C. Heating serum at 37oC for 45 min
• D. Freezing serum at 0oC for 24 hours

Answer: (A)

Heating serum at 56°C for 30 minutes effectively destroys complement activity in vitro due to the denaturation of the complement proteins. The complement system consists of a series of proteins that play a critical role in the immune response, and they require certain structural integrity to function properly. When serum is exposed to elevated temperatures like 56°C, the proteins unfold, and their active sites are altered or destroyed, thereby abolishing their ability to initiate complement-mediated immune responses. While room temperature and freezing conditions may temporarily alter the activity of some proteins, they do not provide the same level of denaturation as the specified heat treatment. Room temperature may allow some complement components to remain functional, while freezing at 0°C generally preserves the integrity of the proteins, at least for a certain period, without denaturing them. Heating at 37°C is not sufficient to completely disrupt complement activity, as it is closer to physiological temperature and does not induce the same level of denaturation observed at 56°C.

Heating serum at 56°C for 30 minutes effectively destroys complement activity in vitro due to the denaturation of the complement proteins. The complement system consists of a series of proteins that play a critical role in the immune response, and they require certain structural integrity to function properly. When serum is exposed to elevated temperatures like 56°C, the proteins unfold, and their active sites are altered or destroyed, thereby abolishing their ability to initiate complement-mediated immune responses.

While room temperature and freezing conditions may temporarily alter the activity of some proteins, they do not provide the same level of denaturation as the specified heat treatment. Room temperature may allow some complement components to remain functional, while freezing at 0°C generally preserves the integrity of the proteins, at least for a certain period, without denaturing them. Heating at 37°C is not sufficient to completely disrupt complement activity, as it is closer to physiological temperature and does not induce the same level of denaturation observed at 56°C.