Journal article
A percolation phase transition controls complement protein coating of surfaces
Cell, v 188(15), pp 4058-4073.e25
24 Jul 2025
PMID: 40516526
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
When a material enters the body, it is immediately attacked by hundreds of proteins, organized into complex networks of binding interactions and reactions. How do such complex systems interact with a material, “deciding” whether to attack? We focus on the complement system of ∼40 blood proteins that bind microbes, nanoparticles, and medical devices, initiating inflammation. We show a sharp threshold for complement activation upon varying a fundamental material parameter, the surface density of potential complement attachment points. This sharp threshold manifests at scales spanning single nanoparticles to macroscale pathologies, shown here for diverse engineered and living materials. Computational models show these behaviors arise from a minimal subnetwork of complement, manifesting percolation-type critical transitions in the complement response. This criticality switch explains the “decision” of a complex signaling network to interact with a material.
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•The complement protein network has a switch-like response when attacking surfaces•Complement “decides” to coat surfaces if surface protein spacing is below a threshold•Complement’s threshold decision-making arises from a percolation phase transition•Complexity science shows how complement makes discrete decisions attacking surfaces
Complex systems of proteins in the body, such as the complement system, must coordinate to turn their functions on and off. This study shows that complement “decides” whether to attack a surface by distinguishing if the density of potential complement attachment points exceeds a threshold, which enables a phase transition that drives further coordination of the network.
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Details
- Title
- A percolation phase transition controls complement protein coating of surfaces
- Creators
- Zhicheng Wang - University of PennsylvaniaSahil Kulkarni - University of PennsylvaniaJia Nong - University of PennsylvaniaMarco Zamora - University of PennsylvaniaAlireza Ebrahimimojarad - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyElizabeth Hood - University of PennsylvaniaTea Shuvaeva - University of PennsylvaniaMichael Zaleski - University of PennsylvaniaDamodar Gullipalli - University of PennsylvaniaEmily Wolfe - Drexel UniversityCarolann Espy - University of PennsylvaniaEvguenia Arguiri - University of PennsylvaniaJichuan Wu - University of PennsylvaniaYufei Wang - University of PennsylvaniaOscar A. Marcos-Contreras - University of PennsylvaniaWenchao Song - University of PennsylvaniaVladimir R. Muzykantov - University of PennsylvaniaJinglin Fu - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyRavi Radhakrishnan - University of PennsylvaniaJacob W. Myerson - University of PennsylvaniaJacob S. Brenner - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Cell, v 188(15), pp 4058-4073.e25
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001543361000010
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105010957548
- Other Identifier
- 991022197324404721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology