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Multiple Choice
The key molecule upon which all complement pathways converge is?
A
C1.
B
C2.
C
C3.
D
C6.
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1
Understand that the complement system is a part of the innate immune response, consisting of a series of proteins that enhance the ability to clear pathogens.
Recognize that there are three main complement pathways: the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway, each initiated differently but converging at a common point.
Identify the key molecule where all three pathways converge, which is responsible for cleaving C5 into C5a and C5b, leading to the formation of the membrane attack complex.
Recall that this key molecule is a component of the C3 convertase complex, which acts on the complement protein C3, making C3 the central molecule in the complement cascade.
Conclude that C3 is the pivotal molecule upon which all complement pathways converge, as it is essential for opsonization, inflammation, and the formation of the membrane attack complex.