Complement Component 1s

Complement component 1s is the catalytic subunit of the C1 complex and a modular serine protease of the classical pathway. Circulating as part of a Ca2+-dependent C1qr2s2 assembly, C1s is engaged when C1q binds immune complexes, after which its neighbor C1r cleaves C1s to unleash protease activity. Activated C1s then cleaves C4 and C2 to generate the C4b2a C3 convertase, committing the pathway to opsonization and inflammation. The protein combines CUB, EGF-like, and CCP domains with a C-terminal serine protease domain. C1s deficiency predisposes to lupus-like disease, and C1s is a therapeutic target for complement-mediated disorders.