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J Rosing

Publications and source records attributed to J Rosing.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The clinical application of a new specific functional assay to detect the factor V(Leiden) mutation associated with activated protein C resistance.

Resistance to activated protein C (APC) is the most common defect found in patients who have venous thromboembolism. The molecular basis of APC resistance is a single-point mutation (arginine506-glutamine) in the gene that encodes for coagulation factor V. This mutation results in a factor V molecule (factor V(Leiden)) that is less effectively downregulated by APC than is normal factor V. The gold standard for the detection of this defect is DNA analysis. Several functional tests, which are based on activated partial thromboplastin time clotting assays, are also commercially available for the detection of APC resistance. These tests, however, have not been satisfactory. Compared with the results of DNA analysis, the results of these tests are frequently discordant. Further, in some patients (eg, those who have lupus anticoagulant or have been receiving heparin), these tests cannot be performed at all. DNA analysis is therefore required in most patients to distinguish congenital APC resistance (factor V(Leiden)) from other causes of abnormal response in functional APC-resistance tests. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical use of a new chromogenic APC-resistance assay that is based on direct measurement of the effect of APC on factor Va cofactor activity in highly diluted, thrombin-activated plasma specimens. All individuals who provided plasma samples for the study underwent DNA analysis to detect the presence of the factor V mutation. In all patient subgroups, including patients who had lupus anticoagulant and those who were receiving unfractionated heparin or coumarin derivatives, the chromogenic test showed excellent discrimination between normal individuals and those who were heterozygous or homozygous for the factor V(Leiden) mutation. No discordant results with DNA analysis were found in 150 cases. The new test easily can be incorporated in any laboratory that has an automated coagulation apparatus with an option for chromogenic measurements. All reagents are commercially available at low cost, and the test is easy to perform and is not time-consuming. This new, sensitive, and specific test allows large-scale screening for the factor V(Leiden) mutation without the need for DNA analysis.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗

Effect of activated protein C on thrombin generation and on the thrombin potential in plasma of normal and APC-resistant individuals.

In this paper we describe the effect of activated protein C (APC) on thrombin generation initiated in platelet-poor plasma via the extrinsic or the intrinsic pathway. Thrombin was determined with a specific chromogenic substrate and quantitated by calculating the time integral of the thrombin generation curve, i.e. the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP). Addition of APC to normal plasma after both extrinsic and intrinsic initiation of coagulation resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of thrombin generation as reflected by the decrease in ETP. Data obtained in intrinsically triggered plasma of normal individuals were subject to large variation. Therefore, the effect of APC on thrombin generation in APC-resistant plasmas was only studied in extrinsically stimulated reaction systems. APC had much less effect on the ETP of plasma from individuals that were heterozygous or homozygous for the mutation Arg506-->Gln506 in factor V (APC resistance). There appears to be a linear relationship between the ETP and the amount of alpha 2-macro-globulin-thrombin complex (alpha 2 M-IIa) that accumulates in plasma during thrombin formation. Since the alpha 2M-IIa complex possesses amidolytic activity, we measured the effect of APC on thrombin generation via the so-called normalized APC sensitivity ratio (APC-sr). The latter was defined as the ratio of the end levels of amidolytic activity of the alpha 2M-IIa complex determined in the presence and absence of 50 nM APC (alpha 2M-IIa + APC/(alpha 2M-IIa - APC) divided by the ratio of a normal plasma pool. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were observed between APC-sr of plasmas from normal individuals (APC-sr: 0.5-1.9, n = 25) and of plasmas from individuals that were heterozygous (APC-sr: 2.1-6.7, n = 17) or homozygous APC resistant (APC-sr: 3.9-5.9, n = 5). There was no overlap between APC-sr of normal plasmas and plasma from individuals, bearing the factor. V mutation. Abnormal APC-sr in certain plasmas (pregnancy, use of oral contraceptives, anticoagulant therapy, protein S deficiency or lupus anticoagulant) were corrected by performing the assay on a plasma sample that was diluted 10-fold in factor V-deficient plasma. Our data show that measurement of the effect of APC on the ETP yields valuable information about the (pro)thrombotic status of plasma (e.g. APC resistance, pregnancy, use of oral contraceptives).

Drug Resistance↗

Coagulation factor V: an old star shines again.

Blood coagulation factor V plays an important role in the regulation of thrombin formation. Activation of factor V by traces of activated coagulation factors (thrombin, factor Xa or meizothrombin) yields factor Va, the non-enzymatic cofactor of the prothrombinase complex. Since factor Va accelerates prothrombin activation under physiological conditions more than 10(4)-fold it is not surprising that down-regulation of factor Va cofactor activity by the protein C pathway is a very effective way for maintaining the hemostatic balance. In this paper we have reviewed the present status of structural knowledge of factor V and Va, the molecular changes in factor V that occur during factor V activation, the function of factor Va in prothrombin activation and the molecular mechanism of inactivation of factor Va by APC. Although considerable insight in the structure-function relationship of factor V and Va has been achieved, the study of mutated factor V molecules obtained by recombinant DNA technology will undoubtedly resolve remaining questions. The latter is illustrated by the fact that the discovery of factor VaLeiden has significantly contributed to our present knowledge on the regulation of the cofactor activity of factor Va via the protein C pathway. It appears that modulation of the activity of APC by protein S and factor Xa will strongly affect the in vivo activity of this pathway. Factor V not only plays an important role in the regulation of the activity of the prothrombinase complex but also acts as cofactor in APC-mediated inactivation of factor VIIIa. This gives rise to a rather intricate mechanism of regulation of thrombin formation by APC that thus far has been mainly studied in model systems containing purified proteins. Thus, extensive studies in plasma will be required in order to get more insight in the in vivo regulation of thrombin formation via the protein C pathway.

Arginine↗

Regulation of thrombin formation by activated protein C: effect of the factor V Leiden mutation.

Activated Protein C (APC) resistance, one of the most common genetic risk factors for venous thrombosis, is caused by a single base mutation (G1691-->A) in the factor V (FV) gene resulting in the replacement of Arg506 by Gln at a predominant cleavage site for APC. Great progress in understanding the mechanism of downregulation of FVa activity via the protein C pathway has been achieved by studying APC-mediated inactivation of FVa purified from homozygous APC-resistant individuals. This review briefly summarizes the role of FVa in prothrombin activation and the structure-function relationship of FV and FVa. Subsequently, APC-dependent inactivation of FVa and FVa Leiden and its modulation by protein S and factor Xa in model systems containing purified proteins is discussed. FV also has a function in increasing the inactivation of FVIII/VIIIa by APC. This cofactor activity appears diminished in FV Leiden. Thus, an intricate mechanism of regulation of thrombin formation via the protein C pathway is starting to emerge. Extensive studies in plasma milieu will be needed to gain more insight into the relation between the presence of FV Leiden and impaired downregulation of thrombin formation in APC-resistant individuals.

Factor V↗

Protein C activation on endothelial cells by prothrombin activation products generated in situ: meizothrombin is a better protein C activator than alpha-thrombin.

The conversion of protein C into activated protein C (APC) by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex on the surface of endothelial cells initiates an essential negative feedback reaction on blood coagulation. APC, together with its non-enzymic cofactor protein S, inactivates factors Va and VIIIa, the non-enzymic protein cofactors of the prothrombinase and intrinsic tenase complex, by proteolytic degradation. In this study we report that prothrombin activation products, generated by the prothrombinase complex on the surface of quiescent endothelial cells, are able to activate protein C. Subsequent inactivation of factor Va by the APC that was formed decreased the rate of prothrombin activation, thus demonstrating in vitro the negative feedback loop on coagulation factor activation. The anticoagulant feedback reaction of APC on the prothrombinase complex was stimulated 3-4-fold by the addition of protein S but not by thrombin-cleaved protein S or by protein S complexed with C4b-binding protein. Stimulation of endothelial cells with 50 pM tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or 500 pM interleukin 1 (IL-1) resulted in a 70% decrease in activation of protein C by exogenously added alpha-thrombin, which seemed to be due to down-regulation of thrombomodulin activity on the surface of endothelial cells. However, when prothrombin activation products generated in situ were allowed to activate protein C, stimulation of endothelial cells with TNF and IL-1 resulted in only a 25% decrease in activation of protein C. Stimulation with TNF or IL-1 did not affect the ability of endothelial cells to support prothrombinase activity. We investigated whether the differences in extent of protein C activation by exogenously added alpha-thrombin and by prothrombin activation products generated in situ were due to meizothrombin formed during prothrombin activation. Previous reports from our groups revealed that meizothrombin is generated as a transient intermediate during prothrombin activation on phospholipid vesicles and endothelial cells. Here we show that meizothrombin is at least a 6-fold better activator of protein C on the surface of endothelial cells than is alpha-thrombin. These results demonstrate that meizothrombin, formed during the initial phase of prothrombin activation, efficiently down-regulates both its own formation and that of thrombin.

Cells, Cultured↗

Factor V enhances the cofactor function of protein S in the APC-mediated inactivation of factor VIII: influence of the factor VR506Q mutation.

Factor V and protein S are cofactors of activated protein C (APC) which accelerate APC-mediated factor VIII inactivation. The effects of factor V and protein S were quantitated in a reaction system in which plasma factor VIII was inactivated by APC and the loss of factor VIII activity was monitored in a factor X-activating system in which a chromogenic substrate was used to probe factor Xa formation. Factor V increased the rate of APC-mediated factor VIII inactivation in a dose-dependent manner in representative plasma samples with protein S or factor V deficiency, abnormal factor V (heterozygous or homozygous for factor VR506Q), or a combination of heterozygous protein S deficiency and heterozygous factor VR506Q. This effect was much less pronounced in the plasma samples with a decreased protein S level, but the impaired response in these plasmas was corrected by addition of protein S, indicating that both factor V and protein S are required for optimal inactivation of factor VIII by APC. The effects of factor V and protein S were also studied in a reaction system with purified proteins. APC-catalysed factor VIII inactivation was enhanced 3.7-fold in the presence of 1.1 nM factor V and 1.5-fold in the presence of 2.4 nM protein S. When both 1.1 nM factor V and 2.4 nM protein were present the rate enhancement was 11-fold. Factor V is a more potent cofactor than protein S, as can be concluded from the fact that 0.04 nM factor V gave the same stimulation as 2.4 nM protein S. Protein S lost its cofactor function after complexation with C4b binding protein, which indicates that it is free protein S that acts as a cofactor. To investigate the effect of the R506Q mutation in factor V on APC-mediated factor VIII inactivation, factor V was purified from the plasma of patients homozygous for factor VR506Q. In the absence of protein S, factor VR506Q did not enhance factor VIII inactivation by APC, but in the presence of 2.4 nM protein S a slight enhancement was observed. The APC cofactor activity of factor V was lost when factor V was activated with thrombin or with the factor V activator from Russell's viper venom. These data indicate that optimal inactivation of factor VIII by APC requires the presence of an intact factor V molecule and free protein S.

Arginine↗

A prothrombinase-based assay for detection of resistance to activated protein C.

In this paper we present a new method for the detection of resistance to activated protein C (APC) that is based on direct measurement of the effect of APC on the cofactor activity of plasma factor Va. The factor V present in a diluted plasma sample was activated with thrombin and its sensitivity towards APC was subsequently determined by incubation with phospholipids and APC. The loss of factor Va cofactor activity was quantified in a prothrombinase system containing purified prothrombin, factor Xa and phospholipid vesicles and using a chromogenic assay for quantitation of thrombin formation. The reaction conditions were optimized in order to distinguish normal, heterozygous and homozygous APC-resistant plasmas. Maximal differences in the response of these plasmas towards APC were observed when factor Va was inactivated by APC in the absence of protein S and when the cofactor activity of factor Va was determined at a low factor Xa concentration (0.3 nM). Addition of 0.2 nM APC and 20 microM phospholipid vesicles to a 1000-fold diluted sample of thrombin-activated normal plasma resulted in loss of more than 85% of the cofactor activity factor Va within 6 min. Under the same conditions, APC inactivated approximately 60% and approximately 20% of the factor Va present in plasma samples from APC-resistant individuals that were heterozygous or homozygous for the mutation Arg506-->Gln in factor V, respectively. Discrimination between the plasma samples from normal and heterozygous and homozygous APC-resistant individuals was facilitated by introduction of the so-called APC-sensitivity ratio (APC-sr). The APC-sr was defined as the ratio of the factor Va cofactor activities determined in thrombin-activated plasma samples after 6 min incubation with or without 0.2 nM APC and was multiplied by 100 to obtain integers (APC-sr = ¿factor Va+APC square root of factor Va-APC¿ x 100). Clear differences were observed between the APC-sr of plasmas from normal healthy volunteers (APC-sr: 8-20, n = 33) and from individuals that were heterozygous (APC-sr: 35-50, n = 17) or homozygous APC resistant (APC-sr: 82-88, n = 7). There was no mutual overlap between the APC-sr of normal plasmas and plasmas from heterozygous or homozygous APC resistant individuals (p < 0.0001). In all cases our test gave the same result at the DNA-based assay. Since the test is performed on a highly diluted plasma sample there is no interference by conditions that affect APC resistance tests that are based on clotting time determinations (e.g. coagulation factor deficiencies, oral anticoagulation, heparin treatment, the presence of lupus anticoagulants, pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives). Furthermore, we show that part of the factor Va assay can be performed on an autoanalyzer which increases the number of plasma samples that can be handled simultaneously.

Biological Assay↗

Effects of protein S and factor Xa on peptide bond cleavages during inactivation of factor Va and factor VaR506Q by activated protein C.

Inactivation of membrane-bound factor Va by activated protein C (APC) proceeds via a biphasic reaction that consists of a rapid and a slow phase, which are associated with cleavages at Arg506 and Arg306 of the heavy chain of factor Va, respectively. We have investigated the effects of protein S and factor Xa on APC-catalyzed factor Va inactivation. Protein S accelerates factor Va inactivation by selectively promoting the slow cleavage at Arg306 (20-fold). Factor Xa protects factor Va from inactivation by APC by selectively blocking cleavage at Arg506. Inactivation of factor VaR506Q, which was isolated from the plasma of a homozygous APC-resistant patient and which lacks the Arg506 cleavage site, was also stimulated by protein S but was not affected by factor Xa. This confirms that the target sites of protein S and factor Xa involve Arg306 and Arg506, respectively. Factor Xa completely blocked APC-catalyzed cleavage at Arg506 in normal factor Va (1 nM) with a half-maximal effect (K1/2Xa) at 1.9 nM factor Xa. Expression of cofactor activity of factor Va in prothrombin activation required much lower factor Xa concentrations (K1/2Xa = 0.08 nM). When the ability of factor Xa to protect factor Va from inactivation by APC was determined at low factor Va concentrations during prothrombin activation much lower amounts of factor Xa were required (K1/2Xa = 0.03 nM). This indicates 1) that factor Va is optimally protected from inactivation by APC by incorporation into the prothrombinase complex during ongoing prothrombin activation, and 2) that the formation of a catalytically active prothrombinase complex and protection of factor Va from inactivation by APC likely involves the same interaction of factor Xa with factor Va. In accordance with the proposed mechanisms of action of protein S and factor Xa, we observed that the large differences between the rates of APC-catalyzed inactivation of normal factor Va and factor VaR506Q were almost annihilated in the presence of factor Xa and protein S. This observation may explain why, in the absence of other risk factors, APC resistance only results in a weak prothrombotic condition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peptide bond cleavages and loss of functional activity during inactivation of factor Va and factor VaR506Q by activated protein C.

Factor V was purified from the plasma of an activated protein C (APC)-resistant patient who is homozygous for the mutation Arg506-->Gln (factor VR506Q). Factor VR506Q was converted by thrombin into factor Va which was further purified yielding a factor Va preparation that had the same cofactor activity in prothrombin activation as normal factor Va. Inactivation of low concentrations of normal factor Va (< 5 nM) by 0.15 nM APC in the presence of phospholipid vesicles proceeded via a biphasic reaction that consisted of a rapid phase (k = 4.3 x 10(7) M-1s-1), yielding a reaction intermediate with reduced cofactor activity that was fully inactivated during the subsequent slow phase (k = 2.3 x 10(6) M-1s-1). Inactivation of factor VaR506Q proceeded via a monophasic reaction (k = 1.7 x 10(6) M-1s-1). Immunoblot analysis showed that APC-catalyzed inactivation of factor Va occurred via peptide bond cleavages in the heavy chain. The rapid phase of inactivation of normal factor Va was associated with cleavage at Arg506 and full inactivation of factor Va required subsequent cleavage at Arg306. The slow monophasic inactivation of factor VaR506Q correlated with cleavage at Arg306. Cleavage at Arg506 in normal factor Va resulted in accumulation of a reaction intermediate that exhibited 40% cofactor activity in prothrombin activation mixtures that contained a high factor Xa concentration (5 nM). Compared with native factor Va, the reaction intermediate retained virtually no cofactor activity at low factor Xa concentrations (0.3 nM). This demonstrates that factor Va that is cleaved at Arg506 is impaired in its ability to interact with factor Xa. Michaelis-Menten kinetic analysis showed that cleavage at Arg506 in membrane-bound factor Va was characterized by a low Km for factor Va (20 nM) and kcat = 0.96 s-1. For cleavage at Arg306 in factor VaR506Q the kinetic parameters were Km = 196 nM and kcat = 0.37 s-1. This means that differences between APC-catalyzed inactivation of factors Va and VaR506Q become much less pronounced at high factor Va concentrations. When factor VaR506Q was inactivated by APC in the absence of phospholipids, cleavage at Arg679 of the heavy chain also contributed to factor Va inactivation. Comparison of rate constants for APC-catalyzed cleavage at Arg306, Arg506, and Arg679 in the absence and presence of phospholipids indicated that phospholipids accelerated these cleavages to a different extent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arginine↗

Functional properties of human factor Va lacking the Asp683-Arg709 domain of the heavy chain.

A protease purified from the venom of the elapid snake Naja naja oxiana converts human blood coagulation factor Va into a molecule (factor VaNO) with greatly reduced cofactor activity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed that the venom protease cleaved a small peptide from the heavy chain of factor Va and reduced the apparent M(r) from 105,000 to 101,000. This peptide was isolated by high performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column. Amino acid sequence analysis of the peptide indicated that the venom enzyme cleaved the peptide bond between His682 and Asp683, thus removing 27 amino acids from the carboxyl-terminal part of the heavy chain. The cofactor activities of factors Va and VaNO were compared by measuring their abilities to support factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation in the presence of phospholipids and calcium ions. Both factor Va molecules stimulated the binding of factor Xa to negatively charged phospholipids. However, the amounts of factor Va required for half-maximal incorporation of factor Xa into the membrane-bound factor Xa-Va complex were much lower for native factor Va (0.25 nM) than for factor VaNO (2.01 nM). At saturating concentrations of factor Va or factor VaNO the kcat values for prothrombin activation were 114 s-1 for factor Va and 128 s-1 for factor VaNO. The Km values for prothrombin determined under these conditions were 0.24 and 0.83 microM for prothrombinase complexes with native factor Va and factor VaNO, respectively. Direct binding studies revealed that factors Va and VaNO bind with equal affinity to phospholipids. These data indicate that factor VaNO is impaired in its ability to interact with factor Xa and prothrombin. Together with the structural data this implies that the carboxyl-terminal Asp683-Arg709 domain of the heavy chain is required for optimal interaction of factor Va with factor Xa and prothrombin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Activation of human factor V by meizothrombin.

A recombinant human prothrombin was prepared in which Arg155 was replaced by Ala. The recombinant prothrombin was converted into a meizothrombin derivative (R155A meizothrombin) that was resistant to autocatalytic removal of the fragment 1 domain. R155A meizothrombin appeared to be a potent factor V activator in reaction mixtures that contained negatively charged phospholipid vesicles. Factor V activation by R155A meizothrombin was characterized by second-order rate constants of 0.06 x 10(6) M-1 S-1 in the absence of phospholipid and 18 x 10(6) M-1 S-1 in the presence of 60 microM phospholipid vesicles composed of a 10:90 mol/mol mixture of phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). The rate constant for thrombin-catalyzed activation of factor V was hardly affected by the presence of phospholipid vesicles and was 4.0 x 10(6) M-1 S-1. The initial rate of activation of 3 nM factor V by R155A meizothrombin was a function of the concentration of PS/PC vesicles present in the reaction mixture, and the calculated rate constant reached a plateau value at > or = 50 microM PS/PC. Gel electrophoretic analysis of factor V activation showed that R155A meizothrombin and thrombin cleaved the susceptible peptide bonds in factor V at different rates. However, both activators finally generated a factor Va molecule composed of a heavy chain with an M(r) of 104,000 and a light chain doublet with M(r) values of 74,000 and 71,000. Since meizothrombin is one of the major reaction products formed during the initial phase of prothrombin activation, these findings are indicative of a significant contribution of meizothrombin to in vivo factor V activation.

Base Sequence↗

Protein S binds to and inhibits factor Xa.

Although human protein S binds to human factor Va and inhibits prothrombinase activity, this inhibition is not totally dependent on factor Va. Hence, we investigated possible interaction of protein S with human factor Xa. Factor Xa, diisopropylphospho-factor Xa and their biotin derivatives ligand blotted specifically to protein S and protein S ligand blotted specifically to factor X and factor Xa. Biotinylated factors X and Xa bound to immobilized protein S and, reciprocally, protein S bound to immobilized factor Xa with a Kd of approximately 19 nM. In fluid phase, protein S bound to factor Xa with a Kd of approximately 18 nM. Protein S at 33 nM reversibly inhibited 50% of factor Xa amidolytic activity. Protein S inhibition of prothrombin conversion to thrombin by factor Xa was phospholipid-independent and was 1.6 times stimulated by Ca2+ ions. Inhibition of prothrombinase activity by protein S was 2.3-fold more potent in the presence of factor Va, with 50% inhibition at approximately 8 nM protein S. Protein S prolonged the factor Xa one-stage clotting time of protein S-depleted plasma in a dose-dependent manner. These data demonstrate mechanisms of anticoagulant action for protein S that are independent of activated protein C and that involve direct binding to factors Xa and Va and direct inhibition of factor Xa.

Biotin↗

Prothrombin activation on dioleoylphosphatidylcholine membranes.

Factor-Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation is greatly accelerated by negatively charged phospholipids plus calcium ions. In 1990, we reported that neutral phosphatidylcholine membranes also stimulated prothrombin activation [Gerads, I., Govers-Riemslag, J.W.P., Tans, G., Zwaal, R. F. A. & Rosing, J. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 7967-7974]. In the present study, we have performed a detailed analysis of the prothrombin-converting activity of phosphatidylcholine membranes. Stimulation of prothrombin activation by phosphatidylcholine vesicles was particularly observed (a) with phosphatidylcholine molecules that contained unsaturated hydrocarbon side chains, (b) in the presence of factor Va, (c) at low ionic strength and (d) when Ca2+ were present in the reaction medium. It is unlikely that the prothrombinase activity of phosphatidylcholine preparations was due to contaminating anionic phospholipids. This is concluded from the fact that thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed that dioleoylphosphatidylcholine [(Ole)2GroPCho] contained less than 0.1 mol/100 mol anionic phospholipid, and that incorporation of such amounts of anionic lipids in (Ole)2-GroPCho membranes hardly increased their prothrombin-converting activity. At low ionic strength and in the presence of factor Va and Ca2+ (Ole)2GroPCho membranes accelerated prothrombin activation about 100-fold. At ionic strength (I) 0.06, prothrombin activation on 100 microM (Ole)2-GroPCho was characterized by a Km for prothrombin of 2 microM, a Vmax of 3020 IIa min-1.Xa-1 and a Kd for factor XaVa complex formation at the membrane surface of 7.5 nM. Prothrombin activation on (Ole)2GroPCho membranes was drastically reduced when the ionic strength was increased. The inhibition at high ionic strength could be explained by an effect on the Kd for XaVa complex formation which increased from 7.5 nM at I = 0.06 to 100 nM at I = 0.22. Prothrombin activation on (Ole)2GroPCho required Ca2+ and was dependent on the presence of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domains in prothrombin and factor Xa. This indicates that similar interactions may account for the assembly of prothrombinase complexes on phosphatidylcholine and an anionic lipid-containing membranes.

1-Carboxyglutamic Acid↗

Characterization of two forms of human factor Va with different cofactor activities.

Factor Va is an essential cofactor in factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation. Purified human factor Va appears to consist of a heavy chain (M(r) approximately 105,000) and a light chain doublet with M(r) approximately 74,000 and approximately 71,000. We separated factor Va by chromatography on a Mono-S column into two fractions, designated factors Va1 and Va2. Factor Va1 contains the light chain with M(r) approximately 74,000, and factor Va2 exclusively contains the light chain with M(r) approximately 71,000. The two forms of factor Va express different cofactor activities when prothrombin is activated at low phospholipid concentrations or on membranes containing low amounts of phosphatidylserine in phosphatidylcholine. Compared with factor Va2, much higher amounts of factor Va1 are required for factor Xa. Va complex formation at the membrane surface. Once incorporated into the prothrombinase complex, factors Va1 and Va2 are equally active in prothrombin activation. This indicates that the two forms of factor Va do not differ in their ability to promote the catalytic activity of factor Xa or to interact with prothrombin. Direct binding experiments show that the different cofactor activities are explained by a greatly impaired ability of factor Va1 to bind to negatively charged membranes. Factor V is also separated into two protein peaks after chromatography on a Mono-S column. Upon incubation with thrombin, the first peak yields factor Va1 and the second peak factor Va2. The same two forms of factor Va were generated when freshly prepared plasma samples or platelet suspensions were treated with thrombin. This shows that the heterogeneity of the light chain domain is an intrinsic property of both plasma and platelet factor V. It is hypothesized that the heterogeneity is caused by small differences in the carboxylterminal C2 domain of factor V that are introduced as the result of post-ribosomal processing.

Binding Sites↗

Binding of protein S to factor Va associated with inhibition of prothrombinase that is independent of activated protein C.

Since plasma protein S serves an anticoagulant function by mechanisms which are not completely understood, its possible interaction with Factor Va was investigated. Human protein S bound to immobilized human Factor Va in a calcium-dependent, saturable, and reversible manner and Factor Va bound similarly to immobilized protein S. Binding of protein S to immobilized Factor V was greatly enhanced by pretreatment of the surface-bound Factor V with increasing doses of thrombin up to 1 unit/ml. Binding of protein S to Factor Va was also demonstrated in fluid phase with a Kd of 33 +/- 9 nM. Biotin-labeled heavy chain of Factor Va bound to immobilized protein S, and this binding was reversed by a 17-fold molar excess of intact unlabeled Factor Va. Protein S competed efficiently with prothrombin for binding to immobilized Factor Va. The prothrombinase activity in a reaction mixture of purified clotting factors was inhibited by protein S and exhibited a pattern of mixed inhibition. The concentration of protein S needed for 50% inhibition of the prothrombinase activity of a mixture containing 1 nM Factor Xa, 20 pM Factor Va, and 50 microM phospholipids was about 16 nM. Since not all protein S preparations exhibited this degree of prothrombinase inhibitory activity, extensive control experiments were performed to verify that the inhibitory activity was associated with protein S during immunoaffinity chromatography and was not caused by traces of activated protein C in the protein S preparations. These data show that protein S has an anticoagulant function which is independent of activated protein C and, at least in part, that this is because of its competition with prothrombin for direct binding to Factor Va.

Binding, Competitive↗

Protein C activation by an activator purified from the venom of Agkistrodon halys halys.

The protein C activator from Agkistrodon halys halys venom was purified 533-fold by ion-exchange chromatography on QAE-Sephadex A-50, affinity chromatography on aprotinin-Sepharose and Mono-Q fast protein liquid chromatography. The purified enzyme is a single chain protein with an apparent molecular weight of 36,000 that activates protein C by proteolytic removal of a small fragment from the heavy chain. The protein C activator exhibited a high amidolytic activity towards the tripeptide substrates D-Pro-Phe-Arg-pNA (S2302) and D-Phe-(pipecolyl)-Arg-pNA (S2238). The activity of the activator was not affected by thiolprotease or metalloprotease inhibitors. The activator was inhibited, however, by benzamidine, Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone, p-nitrophenyl p-guanidinobenzoate and soy bean trypsin inhibitor, which classifies the enzyme as a serine protease. The purified protease was capable of activating both human and bovine protein C. Activation of human protein C only occurred at an appreciable rate in a calcium-free reaction medium at low ionic strength. Ca2+ ions inhibited the activation of human protein C with an apparent Ki of 0.8 mM. Addition of NaCl to the reaction medium also strongly inhibited human protein C activation (50% inhibition at 20 mM NaCl). Kinetic analysis of human protein C activation by the venom activator (in a calcium-free medium) revealed an apparent Km for protein C of 0.52 microM and a kcat of 0.17 s-1 at I = 0.05 (kcat/Km = 3.3 x 10(5) M-1 s-1). At I = 0.15 rates of human protein C activation became linear with protein C indicating a strong increase in Km with increasing ionic strength. Activation of bovine protein C was hardly affected by variation of Ca2+ and NaCl concentrations in the reaction medium. The apparent Kis for calcium ion and NaCl inhibition of bovine protein C activation were > 10 mM and 220 mM, respectively. At I = 0.1 and in the absence of Ca2+ ions bovine protein C was activated with a Km of 0.056 microM and a kcat of 0.24 s-1 (kcat/Km = 4.3 x 10(6) M-1 s-1). Our data are indicative for a rather large conformational and/or structural difference between human and bovine protein C at physiological ionic strength.

Amino Acid Sequence↗