The N-terminal propeptide of surfactant protein C adopts an alpha-helical structure, with turn and extended regions. Its main function is the stabilisation of metastable surfactant protein C (SP-C), since the latter can irreversibly transform from its native alpha-helical structure to beta-
sheet aggregates and form amyloid-like fibrils. The correct intracellular trafficking of proSP-C has also been reported to depend on the propeptide.

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