CD59

This gene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein that regulates complement-mediated cell lysis, and it is involved in lymphocyte signal transduction. This protein is a potent inhibitor of the complement membrane attack complex, whereby it binds complement C8 and/or C9 during the assembly of this complex, thereby inhibiting the incorporation of multiple copies of C9 into the complex, which is necessary for osmolytic pore formation. This protein also plays a role in signal transduction pathways in the activation of T cells. Mutations in this gene cause CD59 deficiency, a disease resulting in hemolytic anemia and thrombosis, and which causes cerebral infarction. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants, which encode the same protein, have been identified for this gene.

Full Name

CD59 molecule (CD59 blood group)

Research Area

Immunology

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.

Biological Process

Blood coagulation
Cell surface receptor signaling pathway
Negative regulation of activation of membrane attack complex
Regulation of complement activation
Regulation of complement-dependent cytotoxicity

Cellular Location

Cell membrane ; Lipid-anchor, GPI-anchor
Secreted
Note: Soluble form found in a number of tissues.

Involvement in disease

Hemolytic anemia, CD59-mediated, with or without polyneuropathy (HACD59):
An autosomal recessive disorder characterized by infantile onset of chronic hemolysis and a relapsing-remitting polyneuropathy, often exacerbated by infection, and manifested as hypotonia, limb muscle weakness, and hyporeflexia.

PTM

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.
Glycated. 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.