🧬 Complement Cascade — 2D (step-cascade view)

Sequential proteolytic amplification: initiator → C3 convertase → C3b burst → C5 convertase → MAC → lysis

Initiator (C1q/MBL/tick-over)

C3/C5 convertase

C3b (opsonin, amplified)

MAC pore (C5b-9)

C3a/C5a

Amplification factor 200×

C3 pool 100%

Inhibitor (DAF/CD59) 0%

Temperature 37°C

Initiator events

Active C3 convertases

C3b molecules

C5 convertases

MAC pores

Time to lysis

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