The membrane attack complex consists of the following proteins:

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The question asks: 'The membrane attack complex consists of the following proteins:' This probes knowledge of the terminal components of the complement system that form the pore in membranes.
First, note that the membrane attack complex (MAC) is formed starting with C5b, which then sequentially binds other components to create the pore: C6, C7, C8, and finally multiple C9 molecules to form the transmembrane channel. In standard descriptions, the MAC is the C5b-9 complex, i.e., C5b together with C6, C7, C8, and C9s. The essential idea is that C7 and C8 are required to anchor the complex to the membrane, and C9 units polymerize to create the actual pore.
Now, evaluating the provided option—C5b, C6, C8 and C9—this list omits C7. Since C7 is a necessary participant in assembling the MAC and enabling membrane insertion, the option is incomplete and thus incorrect as a full representation of the MAC composition. The missing component (C7) is not a trivial omission; without C7, the complex cannot properly insert into the lipid bilayer, which is central to MAC function.
If we consider the canonical composition, the MAC should be described as including C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9 (often summarized as C5b-9), with C9 units polymerizing to form the pore. Any answer that leaves out one or more of these essential components, particularly C7, would misstate the complex.
In short, the statement provided is incomplete because it leaves out C7, and that omission makes it inaccurate as a full description of the MAC’s protein composition. If a complete list were offered, it would include C5b, C6, C7, C8, and C9.

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The membrane attack complex consists of the following proteins:

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