Analysis of solute diffusion across the C5b-9 membrane lesion of complement: evidence that individual C5b-9 complexes do not function as discrete, uniform pores.

We have investigated the diffusion of radiolabeled nonelectrolytes across the membranes of resealed erythrocyte ghosts that had been treated with the terminal complement components C5b-9 and incubated under nonlytic steady state conditions. For all solutes tested, we note that diffusion across the C5b-9 lesion is retarded to rates more than 2 orders of magnitude slower than can be anticipated for a transmembrane diffusional channel of the dimensions suggested by the ultrastructure of the C5b-9 membrane lesion. Furthermore, direct measurement of the relative selectivity of the C5b-9 membrane lesions to permeation by solutes of differing molecular radii suggests that individual membrane lesions are not of uniform functional size. Data are presented that suggest that the functional heterogeneity of the membrane lesion is due to the aggregation of individual membrane bound C5b-9 complexes into larger functional units and not due to variable stoichiometry of C9 within the individual C5b-9 complex.