Function: Potent inhibitor of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) action. Acts by binding to the C8 and/or C9 complements of the assembling MAC, thereby preventing incorporation of the multiple copies of C9 required for complete formation of the osmolytic pore. This inhibitor appears to be species-specific. Involved in signal transduction for T-cell activation complexed to a protein tyrosine kinase.The soluble form from urine retains its specific complement binding activity, but exhibits greatly reduced ability to inhibit MAC assembly on cell membranes.
Subunit structure: Interacts with T-cell surface antigen CD2. Ref.13
Subcellular location: Cell membrane; Lipid-anchor › GPI-anchor. Secreted. Note: Soluble form found in a number of tissues. Ref.12 Ref.16 Ref.20
Post-translational modification: N- and O-glycosylated. The N-glycosylation mainly consists of a family of biantennary complex-type structures with and without lactosamine extensions and outer arm fucose residues. Also significant amounts of triantennary complexes (22%). Variable sialylation also present in the Asn-43 oligosaccharide. The predominant O-glycans are mono-sialylated forms of the disaccharide, Gal-beta-1,3GalNAc, and their sites of attachment are probably on Thr-76 and Thr-77. The GPI-anchor of soluble urinary CD59 has no inositol-associated phospholipid, but is composed of seven different GPI-anchor variants of one or more monosaccharide units. Major variants contain sialic acid, mannose and glucosamine Sialic acid linked to an N-acetylhexosamine-galactose arm is present in two variants. Ref.11 Ref.16Glycated. Glycation is found in diabetic subjects, but only at minimal levels in nondiabetic subjects. Glycated CD59 lacks MAC-inhibitory function and confers to vascular complications of diabetes.
Involvement in disease: CD59 deficiency (CD59D) [MIM:612300]: A deficiency resulting in chronic complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis, anemia, hemoglobinuria and thrombosis.Note: The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry. Ref.25
Sequence similarities: Contains 1 UPAR/Ly6 domain.
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