BINDING PROPERTIES AND SPECIFICITY OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN

Abstract
This communication provides evidence that the precipitation reaction between C-reactive protein (CRP) and C-polysaccharide can be specifically inhibited by various phosphate monoesters of low molecular weight. In studying the mechanism of this inhibition reaction, it was found that the CRP can bind approximately 1 molecule of phosphate monoester per protein subunit and that the binding is dependent on the presence of calcium ions. CRP was found to bind calcium ions in the absence of phosphate mono-esters.